I contacted the three major candidates running for Mayor to ask about their plans for charter change if elected (I did not contact the Working Families Party candidate promoted by the Republican Party).
Heidi Owens-West (Republican)
I asked her, if elected, do you have any plans to initiate a new charter change proposal?
No, Charter Change has already been defeated 3x.
Robin Dalton (Saratoga Stronger Together)
I asked her, if elected, do you have any plans to initiate a new charter change proposal?
I have no plans to address charter change in any way, shape, or form in my current term or over the next two years if elected in November.
Ron Kim (Democrat)
Ron Kim was the co-chair of and spokesperson for the group advocating for charter change last fall. I emailed him to inquire what his plans would be for charter change should he be elected mayor. What follows is our email exchange.
From: john.kaufmann
Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2021 7:30:58 PM
To: Ronald Kim
Subject: Charter
If you are elected mayor, what do you plan to do about the city’s charter?
From: Ronald Kim <ron@ronaldkimlaw.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2021 8:49 PM
To: john.kaufmann21@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Charter
Abide by it.
Sincerely,
Ron
From: john.kaufmann
To: Ronald Kim
Subject: RE: Charter
If you are elected mayor you will not create a commission to change it?
From: Ronald Kim
Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2021 8:55 PM
To: john.kaufmann
Subject: Re: Charter
I believe in democracy, and the voters have spoken, now we move on.
Sincerely,
Ron
From: john.kaufmann
Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2021 9:05:28 PM
To: Ronald Kim
Subject: RE: Charter
Thank you for your prompt response. Will you go on the record then to commit that if elected you will not create a charter change commission?
From: Ronald Kim <ron@ronaldkimlaw.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2021 9:15 PM
To: john.kaufmann21@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Charter
Yes. However, it is my understanding that the Charter requires the Mayor and City Council to appoint a Charter Commission at a certain point in time (I do not recall when that is.) If that occurs while I am Mayor, I will abide by the Charter and appoint a Commission, if it does not occur while I am Mayor, I have no intentions of taking this action, because the voters have spoken and we have more important matters to deal with at this point in time.
Sincerely,
Ron
From: john.kaufmann
Sent: Friday, June 25, 2021 9:56 AM
To: Ronald Kim
Subject: Charter
I did some research and found this under the mayor’s duties in the charter (Title 4 Section F).
“The City Charter shall be reviewed at least every 10 years commencing with the effective date of this Charter.”
As Mayor Kelly established a charter review commission in 2018, I would interpret the section to indicate that the city has until 2028 to carry out another charter review. What are your thoughts?
JK
From: Ronald Kim
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2021 10:51 AM
To: john.kaufmann
Subject: Re: Charter
As I said, voters spoke in 2020—as a Democrat who believes in democracy I will abide by that decision and focus on other more important matters if elected Mayor in 2021. If I happen to be in office at the time the Charter requires a review, I will abide by the Charter and appoint a commission. I take no position on your interpretation at this point in time. As an attorney I recognize that “textual interpretations” are not the last word on what is required by a foundational document like our City Charter.
Ron
Ron Kim Fundraiser Invitation Paints Picture of His Support
I thought the readers of this blog would find it helpful to get a sense of who is supporting Ron Kim’s candidacy. Supporters of charter change figure heavily on this list of donors.
Saratoga Springs Politics 
All the usual suspects. Pretend by saying “the right things”. Infiltrate. Then work to change anything that is preventing them from reaching their goals. Didn’t see Dillon Moran on the list. Wonder where he is hiding. Guess he is working hard to infiltrate the money part of the cabal.
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A leopard can’t change its spots. You can bet that Kim is going to push for another round of charter change.
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It’s unfortunate that the prior Charter group has poisoned the well so drastically with their toxic city manager campaign. Residents are so thoroughly tired of them that they will likely oppose anything to do with the Charter, whether that’s making much needed improvements to the existing document, or moving to the strong mayor form of government that would likely best serve the city.
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