My wife Jane Weihe and I knew Tom McTygue for more than fifty years and in spite of our differences over the years were always quite fond of him and admired and respected his many accomplishments that contributed so much to Saratoga Springs.
In the mid 1980s, Jane and Tom ran competing slates for the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee’s seats. Jane’s slate prevailed.
Their campaigns were prompted by differences over a proposed development at Exit 14. Tom supported it, and Jane opposed it.
Jane and Tom went on to run together on the Democratic slate in the city elections the following year. Tom’s response to the committee defeat was emblematic of the man and stands in sharp contrast to the toxic divisive world of politics on today’s Council.
“Our differences were over issues and never personal ,” Jane observes. “In contrast to the current Democratic Committee, there was room for our disagreements over the years. As long as I was direct with Tom about our differences, I felt there was never any acrimony.”
Tom was a doer who dedicated his life to improving the city through the many projects that are the foundation of Saratoga’s prosperity today. One of his crowning achievements was the restoration of the Canfield Casino. This was an enormously difficult and challenging project, but Tom loved the challenge. He immersed himself in the historical details and worked with the craftsmen who created today’s gem.
This was just one of many other projects, which included everything from organizing a team of young people who used an old fire truck called “Flower Power” in the summer to move throughout the city to water and maintain the many flower beds that McTygue added to the city landscape, to the more technical problems of resolving the city’s many drainage issues.
Tom did not have time for prolonged feuds because he always needed his opponents’ support for the next enterprise to improve the city that he loved.
Jane and I send our deepest condolences to his wife, Sandy, and family.
Jane and I will miss him.
Saratoga Springs Politics 
One of the major projects that Tom McTygue completed was the dramatic improvement of the drainage through the core of the City. Spring Street used to flood regularly and the foundation of the Canfield Casino and many buildings in the ‘gut’ were failing due to water damage. The large drainage system placed during the 1980’s made a big difference. As the drainage improved, the deterioration of buildings in the area ceased. Businesses were more willing to invest in existing buildings and new structures, such as the City Library, were made possible.
Tom McTygue was criticized by a well organized and very vocal group of individuals who insisted that placing the Kaydeross Carousel in Congress Park would ruin the park. Tom insisted that, once the people actually saw the completed project, the opposition would disappear. He was right. The opposition melted away almost immediately and the carousel is today a well-loved attraction in our City.
It should also be noted that Saratoga Springs was a Republican Party stronghold for many years. However, Tom McTygue continually frustrated their efforts to have complete domination of the City Council. As the only Democrat who for decades could be reliably re-elected, he brought much-needed diversity and accountability to city government.
Chris Mathiesen
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The Spring Run drainage project was completed in the early 80s through a grant. Not sure how DPW was involved in that huge endeavor. Regardless, Tom McTygue deserves the praises of every Saratogian. He put his heart and soul into being a Commissioner.
BTW, it is more difficult to post comments. I have lost at least 3 comments. Wondering if it is just me, or others affected.
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I hear this problem occasionally. I have no idea. Make a copy and if it doesn’t go up send it directly to me. I will put it up and explain it comes from you.
Don’t give up!!!!
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It is sad to note that Democratic one term mayor Valerie Keehn and her allies were instrumental in ending Tom McTygue’s political career –something she celebrated on election night. While she has thankfully disappeared from the city’s political landscape, that spirit of divisiveness and mean spiritedness unfortunately lives on in today’s Democratic committee and the candidates they support.
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Just to note, DPW did the improvement of the Village Brook drainage from Lake Ave. south to Spring St. Urban Renewal did the project from Lake Ave. NNE to it’s outlet near EBI Beverage on Excelsior, about a decade earlier.
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