I am struck by the stark differences in the campaign materials being put out by the two candidates in the special election for Saratoga Springs Public Works Commissioner.
The two flyers below starkly dramatize the very different approaches of Chuck Marshall’s and Hank Kuczynski’s campaigns. One is positive and concrete. It lays out the credentials of its candidate and the things they specifically hope to accomplish if elected. It appeals to the the reason of those it is sent to. The other is inflammatory and intemperate. It plays on fear. It is an extension of the ugly behavior that has become the toxic footprint of the current Democratic members of the City Council.
Chuck Marshall’s Flyer
Hank Kuczynski’s Flyer
I am old school. I believe campaigns should not be based on false fear-mongering but on honest, straightforward information. It is perfectly appropriate to run ads that are critical of opponents but they should be based on fact.
It is extremely depressing to me that my party, Democratic, has decided to adopt the very methods that they condemn when exercised by Republicans.
The Kuczynski campaign is flooding people’s texts and phones following the public relations theory: Repeat a lie often enough, and people will believe it.
This is a sample of a voice message being sent to people’s devices:
“Hi …, my name is Susan Cohen. I’m with the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee. I’m calling to let you know that we have a special election on January 28 for commissioner of the department of public Works. As you may know, Hank Kochinski [JK: AI has a problem with Hank’s name]] is now the interim DPW chief and we’d like to keep him in that role unfortunately due to some underhanded power grabbing by the Republicans [JK: My emphasis] our candidate Hank is a right candidate so we’re asking you please write in Hank’s last name”
The Simple Truth
There is no question that the effort to fill the vacancy of Public Works Commissioner once Jason Golub resigned was confusing and convoluted.
Chuck Marshall, the Republican and One Saratoga candidate, carried out his due diligence. He consulted with an attorney steeped in election law to assist him in understanding what was going on and filed the necessary papers on time to get on the ballot.
For whatever reason, the fact is Moran and the city Democratic Committee chair, Otis Maxwell, failed to submit the nomination of a candidate to the Board of Elections. For those of us who have observed these people, it was unsurprising that they lacked the prudence to consult a lawyer.
To spin this craziness that Moran and Maxwell were the victims in some sort of brilliant scheme that also involves a corrupt judiciary is to exaggerate the skills of the Republicans and ignore the culpability of the Democrats.
For the Democratic Committee to now try to hide their ineptitude and run a campaign that they were the victims in all of this is ridiculous.
The Democrats have a commanding edge in registrations over the Republicans, but they must get people to write in their candidate’s name. Will the Democrats’ game plan work in spite of their ineptitude? Who knows?
Early voting continues through Sunday, January 26 at the Rec Center. Regular polling places will be open on election day, Tuesday, January 28.
Saratoga Springs Politics 
John,
Monday, some historians and political psychologists have suggested, marked what may be the beginning of the end of American liberal democracy as we have know it. Perhaps they will be proven correct.
Of course the newly installed president had successfully begun the process by cowering an already feckless Congress and corroding the essential elements of liberal democracy: i.e., a true separation of powers, the rule of law and its equal application, universal suffrage, and the equal protection of human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, and political freedom. They have all been diminished by the Trump ethic and some of the characters he attracts. The Congress no longer serves as a check on the abuse of presidential power and some federal justices are viewed as compromised or even corrupted.
Certain members of the loyal opposition are threatened with arrest, prosecution and imprisonment even by an executive who himself is a career white collar criminal and arguably an insurrectionist. And a compliant court has immunized him. The self proclaimed “law and order” champion pardons those who assaulted the Capitol police and threatens those who prosecuted the January 6 rioters.
Now, by executive order, he has declared that even traditional sacred spaces of sanctuary, churches and masques and synagogues, can be violated by federal agents in his search for undocumented immigrants. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, has directed U.S. attorneys to investigate and potentially prosecute local officials who stand in the way of immigration authorities.
And, of course, Trump the draft dodger, who escaped war service by feigning a physical deformity, now considers ordering the military to help roundup immigrant women and potentially birthright children. He is a prince among men.
So Inauguration Day will serve as the benchmark going forward. Is Trump the contemporary “Buzz” Windrip, the demagogue and Fascist leaning politician become president portrayed by Sinclair Lewis in “It Can’t Happen Here.” It can happen here. It is and in broad daylight and in real time.
So what does any of this have to do with your recent posts on the upcoming special election here in Saratoga Springs and the November election to follow. Simply this. In the short term the best and perhaps only way to resist a corrupt and cruel federal administration is to only support and elect candidates for local, county and state office who vow to reject Trump and his
morally bankrupt agenda.
So where do the candidates in the special election for public works and their respective parties stand. Will they refuse to commit the city resources to advance any element of the Trump program requiring local assistance or participation? Will they support an indiscriminate round up of the immigrant population that plays an important role in our racing and hospitality industries?
Will they reject the administration’s attempt to remove anti-discrimination and inclusion in their hiring practices? Maybe they should be asked before we vote.
What did Edmund Burke famously say, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” It’s time for good men and good women to do the right thing.
And finally, local Democrats holding or running for office will surrender the moral high ground if they continue to campaign in half truths and lies, name calling at City Council meetings, inappropriately committing public monies without approval for private attorneys and awarding illicit compensation to political appointees. These are the very tactics, albeit on a much diminished scale, that define Trump.
Rather than play silly games they might be better served addressing the community’s needs and problems.
Lew Benton
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You gotta love how the Dems do all these hyperbolic partisan attacks and then try to claim their candidate will “work with all parties” to blah, blah, blah…..LOL
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if you care about the tax payers of the city or the city itself, write in Michael Ladd. He’s a no party, but a competent leader.
Mr Marshall is a nice man. But is basically a developer who will not honor our attempts to keep a little green east of the Northway.
Again please consider writing in Michael Ladd. He’s Deidre Ladd’s husband.
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Anonymous: What evidence do you have that Mr. Marshall “will not honor our attempts to keep a little green east of the Northway”. He has been on the planning board for a number of years and has been chairing it. Can you give me a specific example of anything he has done or said there that would support your accusation? Otherwise you sound like Minita Sanghvi.
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I agree with John Kaufmann. The Chuck Marshall campaign is hardly the ‘partisan power grab’ that the Democratic Committee claims. Also, I know of no evidence that Mr. Marshall would support policies that would violate the intent of our Comprehensive Plan.
Chris Mathiesen
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I do
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In the end, this election may get down to how thoughtful and engaged Democratic voters are. To what extent will they turn out to simply write in their party’s nominee and to what extent will they actually pay attention to the qualifications and character of the candidates regardless of party. Democrats who are paying attention need to keep in mind three things: Dillon Moran, Minita Sanghvi, and Ron Kim all want you to vote for Hank Kuscynski.
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I took a look at Chuck Marshall’s financial disclosure form on the BOE website and it’s chock full of contributions from the usual gang of local reactionaries. On the other hand, Hank Kuczynski has already broken his promise not to run and is largely supported by the inept SS Democratic Committee.
I’m so sick of elections where I have to hold my nose to vote for either candidate, so I’m going to do what I usually do and write myself in. Isn’t it time for a ballot line that reads, “None of the above?”
https://publicreporting.elections.ny.gov/CandidateCommitteeDisclosure/CandidateCommitteeDisclosure
Chuck Marchall’s BOE disclosure form is filed under: Friends of Chuck Marshall 445586
Hank Kuczynski’s is: Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee – Commissioner of Public Works – 9813
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I took a look at Chuck Marshall’s financial disclosure form on the BOE website and it’s chock full of contributions from the usual gang of local reactionaries. On the other hand, like Joe Biden, Hank Kuczynski has already broken his promise not to run and is largely supported by the inept SS Democratic Committee.
I’m so sick of elections where I have to hold my nose to vote for either one, so I’m going to do what I usually do and write myself in. Isn’t it time for a ballot line that reads, “None of the above”?
https://publicreporting.elections.ny.gov/CandidateCommitteeDisclosure/CandidateCommitteeDisclosure
Chuck Marchall’s BOE disclosure form is filed under: Friends of Chuck Marshall 445586
Hank Kuczynski’s is: Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee – Commissioner of Public Works – 9813
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Here’s why I’m against Chuck Marshall for public works: Maple Dell Residents have tried to stop development in their neighborhood three times, but Chuck Marshall, Stewart’s Real Estate Representative and Project Manager, (keeps coming back at them. Says one Maple Dell resident: ““This is our home,” she said. “This is property that our life has been involved in. This is our everyday stress. … (Stewart’s) will keep coming after us. We look at this and this will never end. It’s a freakin’ curse.” ”https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Neighbors-continue-to-fight-Saratoga-Stewart-s-16642301.php
Also… what do you call it when Republicans say no to a special election, then sue for it once they know the other guys didn’t file papers to be on the ballot?
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I welcome a spirited discussion and appreciate your comment.
Two points. Michele Madigan who Kuczynski chose to moderate his press conference during which he attacked Marshall on the Maple Dell issue, voted to approve the Maple Dell PUD. The irony was lost on Kuczynski.
As for the timing of the legal action, it could not be initiated until there was an actual action to be appealed. That action was when the Saratoga County Democratic Board of Elections Commissioner Cassandra Bagramian refused to approve the ballot. Before making this kind of false claim you should rigorously check the record.
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Here’s why I’m against Chuck Marshall for public works: Maple Dell Residents have tried to stop development in their neighborhood three times, but Chuck Marshall, Stewart’s Real Estate Representative and Project Manager, (keeps coming back at them. Says one Maple Dell resident: ““This is our home,” she said. “This is property that our life has been involved in. This is our everyday stress. … (Stewart’s) will keep coming after us. We look at this and this will never end. It’s a freakin’ curse.” ”https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Neighbors-continue-to-fight-Saratoga-Stewart-s-16642301.php
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Lale, good for you. A legitimate issue of which people can argue on contrast to the literature being put out by the committee. If Michele runs, I hope you raise the same issue with her.
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