It’s Party Time For One Saratoga

The non-partisan organization One Saratoga held an event to meet their endorsed candidates for Saratoga Springs city offices at the Principessa Elena Society on Thursday, May 8, 2025 . The turnout was great.

Current Deputy Mayor and Candidate for Finance Commissioner JoAnne Kiernan, Sharon Dominguez, Dan Charleson, Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety

Former City Attorney Vince DeLeonardis , former Public Safety Commissioner Chris Mathiesen, former Mayor Meg Kelly

Chris Mathiesen and Joanna Zangrando

Candidate for Finance Commissioner JoAnne Kiernan addresses the attendees

Candidate for Commissioner of Accounts Jessica Troisi speaks

Jessica Troisi and Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Coll

Carol Joyce, Vince DeLeonardis, John Kaufmann

Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Coll addresses those gathered

One Saratoga treasurer Kathy Wilson and candidate and current Commissioner of Public Works Chuck Marshall

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According to their literature, “One Saratoga is a non-partisan coalition that wants the best-qualified people governing Saratoga Springs.” Their motto is “City before Party”. This year they have endorsed three registered Republicans, three registered Democrats, and one independent who is not registered in any party.

Their candidates are:

John Safford for Mayor

Chuck Marshall for Public Works Commissioner

JoAnne Kiernan for Finance Commissioner

Jessica Troisi for Accounts Commissioner

Tim Coll for Public Safety Commissioner

George Ehinger and Sarah Burger for the two County Supervisor seats

They are currently circulating petitions to get their candidates on the November ballot.

If you wish to know more about One Saratoga and their candidates go to their website at https://realonesaratoga.org or their face book page at facebook.com/RealOneSaratoga

23 thoughts on “It’s Party Time For One Saratoga”

  1. Obviously, a tilt towards the Republican Party, locally. I know that must hurt many local long time Democrats in the city, but the local Democratic Party has kind of ‘gone off the rails’ so to speak.
    As long as a candidate tries to keep Government efficient, taxes low, fights crime, and is responsive, then they get my vote.
    I’ll most likely vote on the ‘One’ line come November….

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    1. While the local dems go off the rails, the local republicans have actually comported themselves pretty well in recent years. The candidates have been objectively good, reasonable people. Tough to argue with their choices. Kiernan vs Gaston for example has to be the biggest mismatch in terms of competence and just not being a bad person m in local government history. 

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  2. Nobody that one would call “progressive,” and all but one could easily be called “conservative;” 6 out of 7 endorsed by the two major parties. Certainly nothing “independent” about this slate.

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  3. “Dems are off the rails”?? how absurd.

    But, as long as Moran and Sanhgvi are gone in November, I will support all of the other candidates. Coll is probably the best Public Safety Commissioner this city has ever had. Stafford is a nice guy, but I think Madigan could do as well too. I don’t know that much about the new Commissioner of Public Works, but making bumps out of potholes is not a good start.

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  4. I’m supporting One Saratoga with the exception of the Mayor’s office. I think Michelle did a good job with the City’s finances and she has proved her competence. Also she has dismissed the idea of another vote for charter change which Stafford has hinted at. We don’t need a change in our government but we need competence which is currently lacking in two of our commissioners.

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      1. I stand corrected. I saw this in the gazette and assumed it meant that she was not in support of charter change.

        “While opting not to run on charter reform because it is a “red herring”, Madigan personally believes that a mayor-council system would be benevolent for the city.”

        I also read that Mayor Stafford was looking to review the charter and assumed he was in favor of a change. Perhaps I’m mistaken.

        It is probably inevitable that we will have another referendum foisted upon us to end our form of government which will probably fail again. At least I saved my lawn signs saying No to charter change.

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      2. John, I don’t know if that is the platform of the party but I think for accuracy, you might want to talk to Michele and get her take?

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    3. To clarify, Michele Madigan has been clear that charter change is not a priority in her campaign or in her administration should she win. She is , however, realistic that there are some in the city who are in support of this. Her comment was intended to indicate that if charter change were to happen that would be her preference. In the meantime, he is ready and willing to work with the current form of government.

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  5. Thank you to those whose comments are supportive of Michele Madigan and her work to date. While the Democrat platform may support charter change, Michele stated at her campaign kickoff that she will not argue over it, emphasizing that it’s not a priority for her; she can work effectively under any form of government. The only one who has indicated support for charter change is John Safford, as he has called for a review of the existing charter, which could lead to charter change following that review. Even if that were to happen, it is time-consuming and would likely have no impact on the upcoming administration. Michele spent 10 years working under the current charter and knows it inside and out, allowing her to hit the ground running on day one.

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    1. Gayle-In the video of Michele’s April 9 kick off at the Library, Michele clearly stated when asked that she believes there is a need for a charter commission, that it was not worth looking at improving the existing charter as Mayor Safford has proposed, that change is needed, and that she would not oppose a change to a city manager form. The video is available on her face book page.

      The current city Democratic platform adopted January, 2025, states “A Charter Revision Commission should be established promptly…to begin the necessary consideration of bringing about needed change in the city’s form of government.”

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      1. Jane, I was at her kick-off and fully aware of what she said. I’m sorry you chose not to attend so you could ask any questions you may have and thus have full clarity on her positions. I don’t think anyone is against exploring some edits or adjustments to the charter. The format that takes will be up to the commission that John Safford has called for and I’m sure Michele will have comments if and when recommendations are made. At the moment, as Michele has said several times, charter change is not her priority. Her priority is the real issues facing Saratogians. We are lucky her experience allows her to have the ability to lead the City as Mayor regardless of what shape the Charter takes.

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  7. I’m posting for MIchele Madigan as she seems unable to post to this blog

    It’s absurd to paint me as someone who’s all in on charter change simply because the Democratic platform calls for it.
    I served on the 2018 charter review commission that was charged with reviewing and making recommendations on the existing commission form of government. It went to referendum and it failed miserably. The 2018 review was chaired by Vince DeLeonardis as is the current review starting this week. I know the existing charter as well if not better than most people. I spent 10 years working in the commission form of government with significant accomplishments. I am not calling for charter review. However, if we are going to have it, I’d prefer to see a mayor / council form of government over a city manager form of government. This will be up to the charter review commission and then the people via referendum. I will not get involved in arguing about charter change. There is no reason to believe that Mayor Safford’s review of the existing charter is going to be any more successful than the 2018 version. We had many knowledgeable people on that review including commissioner John Franck. We’ve been there and done that. It seems every mayor I’ve worked with has called for one form or another of charter review or charter change. Frankly, I think most people continue to have charter fatigue, and this review of the existing charter is perhaps a waste of time.

    Michele Madigan

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    2. Michele-what you have written here is simply not consistent with the remarks you made at your kick-off event on April 9 in response to questions from your colleagues in the audience and memorialized on video.

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  8. Thanks, Gayle, for posting this. Michele’s comments on charter change begin around 10:10 in a response to a question from Gordon Boyd and then one from BK Keramati

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    1. Absolutely, I believe we need to have a charter commission. Does this mean that she is in favor of a charter change

      Of course I know exactly the portion of the video you are referring to.

      Has Michele gone on record saying she thinks the city needs to look at the current form of government? Yes. However, she has also made it clear that this is not a priority for her should she become Mayor. As she has always said, it is up to the voters and she will not fight the decision of the commission.

      She has many other more pressing policies to consider so perhaps we can put your incessant  focus on this one topic to rest.

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  10. I live in the City where I pay reasonable taxes, enjoy excellent police protection, have my yard debris picked up regularly, have clean and safe streets to travel on, have water and sewer service and a beautiful city hall where I can have access to all the benefits provided to me by the various departments.

    I like being able to vote for each department head for accounts, public safety, finance, public works and for the mayor. The commission form of government has served us well for the past 110 years. Saratoga Springs is the most desirable City in upstate NY. This one topic deserves an incessant focus. I just wish I had a more clear understanding of who I can vote for to avoid another charter change sh-t show.

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