Author: John Kaufmann

Saratoga Springs mayoral candidate Michele Madigan’s recent Facebook post is the latest chapter in this year’s Democratic playbook, whose theme is to falsely convince voters that One Saratoga is a front for Elise Stefanik. Or as Michele puts it, “Real One Saratoga=Maga Machine.” This, despite the fact that the city’s Democratic Committee endorsed two of the candidates running on the One Saratoga line. But don’t confuse her with the facts.

Here is Madigan’s rant:

From Michele Madigan’s Facebook Page

Lies and Disinformation

It’s hard to know where to begin. I have been following city politics for decades and have never seen this level of disinformation from a candidate of either party before. Here is some fact-checking:

Falsehood #1: City and County GOP Are Funding One Saratoga

At the bottom of this post is the financial report filed by One Saratoga with the New York State Board of Elections this year. There are no records of contributions by the city or county Republican Committees to One Saratoga.

Falsehood#2: One Saratoga spent $4,000+ on GOP mailings.

Again, Madigan seems to be just making this up. There is no record of this. See One Saratoga’s financial report filed with the New York State Board of Elections (below). Madigan also mysteriously points to One Saratoga running ads in “Republican-friendly outlets,” which she doesn’t name.

Falsehood #3: Richard and Bonnie Sellers Are “GOP Mega Donors” Who Are Underwriting One Saratoga and Engaged in Money Laundering!

(To be fair, Michele did not include the money laundering thing in her rant. That was included in a letter sent by Democratic chair Otis Maxwell to the NY State Board of Elections. But more about that later.)

Here is Richard Seller’s reply:

My wife and myself have been criticized for following Board of Election regulations and contributing to One Saratoga and the candidates it supports, which obviously has the best slate of candidates for Saratoga Springs.

The underhanded nature of this criticism is one of the reasons I recently sent a letter to editors which included: “I don’t care if my elected officials are Republicans, Democrats, or Martians. But I do care if they show up, do the work and treat each other (and us) with basic respect” which obviously is not practiced by the City Democratic Committee, which again is sending slimy communications.

By continuing to throw around the word MAGA, a national term, in a local election, the City Democratic Party embarrassingly mischaracterizes our contributions to One Saratoga and the candidates on its line. It also reveals a lack of a Democratic platform this election to run on against superior people.

Here are the facts:

1. We’ve been involved supporting local candidates for 15 or more years and have always closely followed the Board of Election rules. Therefore, we wrote multiple checks to be sure that no candidate received more support than is allowed, $1,000, including the funds given to One Saratoga.
2. These were written early in the campaign which by BoE rules are public, which we were aware of. Therefore, the only confusion is by the City Democratic Party for either not knowing how election funding is regulated and publicized or ignoring this to attempt to smear One Saratoga supporters.
3. We are not as accused, a “front organization.” All money came from our checking accounts with no reimbursement from anyone. In past campaigns, we have given almost as much several times, which the writers are aware of.
4. My wife is a Republican and I am what’s termed a No Party, neither a Democrat nor Republican. In fact, over the years, we’ve each voted for local candidates for both parties many times.
5. A complaint was that these checks were written in one day. I’m asking, why is this a problem?
6. Michelle Madigan just jumped on social media to inaccurately call us a GOP mega doner although we’ve contributed a total of $100 to the Republican party since 2007. Just more mud.

I hope that voters will realize that any party which slings unfounded accusations and makes up conspiracies does not deserve their vote.

Finally, we are supporting 3 registered Democrats, 3 registered Republicans, and 1 No Party. In fact, two of these candidates will also be on the Democratic line: Tim Coll and Sarah Burger. To restore civility and professionalism in City Hall, please vote for One Saratoga candidates.

Disinformation and Distortions

In addition to out-and-out lies, Madigan includes information that she suggests is somehow evidence of some nefarious activities on the part of One Saratoga.

For instance, Madigan wants us to think it is somehow significant that Republicans Chuck Marshall, John Safford, and George Ehinger contributed to One Saratoga. But they are all One Saratoga endorsed candidates. One Saratoga asked all of its candidates to contribute to the organization to help fund the campaign. Both the Republican and Democratic Committees have also requested similar contributions from their candidates. What Madigan omits is the inconvenient truth that all the One Saratoga candidates contributed, including the Democrats One Saratoga has endorsed. But that would not fit her narrative.

Heidi Owens-West Attacked

Madigan also points to a contribution to One Saratoga by Heidi Owen-West as evidence that “One Saratoga is Elise Stefanik’s Trojan Horse for MAGA politics in Saratoga Springs.”

Heidi was the endorsed Republican candidate for Mayor several years ago, but Ms. Owen-West is not a registered Republican. She is not registered with any party. In a release, Democratic chair Otis Maxwell gave to the media, he included speculation that there was some sort of problem (never clear) about Owen-West’s contribution to One Saratoga that Madigan highlights on her Facebook Page. There was no problem. Here was her response to the allegations.

It has come to my attention that a recent communication [JK: Maxwell’s release to the media] contained inaccurate and misleading information regarding my campaign committee filings. I feel it’s important to set the record straight.

 I have always been an independent voice in this community—someone who supports candidates based on their ability to make the best choices for Saratoga Springs, its residents, and its small businesses. I was born and raised here, raised my family here, and have run businesses here for nearly four decades. My commitment has always been, and remains, to this city—not to partisan politics.

Second, regarding campaign finance filings: my committee, Heidi for Mayor, has always filed reports accurately and on time. The October filing was due on October 3rd and was submitted on that date. The $1,000 contribution to Chuck Marshall’s special election campaign and the $900 contribution to One Saratoga were made using funds from previous campaign donations. Those donations, along with the original contributions, were properly reported and filed with the Board of Elections. Any suggestion otherwise is false and misleading.

Our community deserves truth, accountability, and respect—not false narratives and divisive attacks. Saratoga Springs is stronger when we work together, not when misinformation is used as a political weapon.

—Heidi Owen West

Maxwell, Boyd, and Kuczynski File False Claims with NYS Board of Elections

Madigan’s screed on Facebook follows and amplifies claims made by Saratoga Springs Democratic chair Otis Maxwell and committee member Gordon Boyd to the New York State Board of Elections recently.

In their letter to the Board of Elections, they claim that the Real One Saratoga appears to be hiding the identity of donors. Their accusation is based solely on the fact that Bonnie and Richard Sellers wrote several separate checks to One Saratoga, all on the same day. As Richard Sellers points out in his earlier reply to this post, this was the legal way to contribute to multiple candidates, something that Maxwell and Boyd likely knew or should have known before they wrote their letter. I would also note that if the Sellers were seriously involved in money laundering, it is unlikely that they would call attention to themselves by writing numerous checks at the same time. The letter to the Board of Elections was, of course, accompanied by a press release (see below) sent to all local media outlets, no doubt in the hope that they could secure some coverage, despite the lack of validity in their claims.

The Big Lie

Finally, One Saratoga is clearly not “Elise Stefanik’s Trojan Horse for MAGA politics in Saratoga Springs” as Ms Madigan claims repeatedly in her statement. Such dishonesty reflects the Dillon Cult’s (Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee) fear that people will vote based on the quality of the candidates, rather than their party affiliation, and that the Democrats will lose this election despite their substantial enrollment advantage.

What One Saratoga truly is is a group that abhors the kind of politics that Maxwell’s, Boyd’s, Kuczynski’s, and Ms. Madigan’s attacks represent. It focuses on local politics around which people of all political persuasions can agree upon to protect our beautiful city. Thus, what Madigan ignores is that One Saratoga has received numerous donations from Democrats, independents, and Republicans alike, as they are truly a bipartisan group.

It has endorsed seven candidates for the November election. Three are Republicans, three are Democrats, and one is not registered in any party. In fact, two of the One Saratoga endorsed candidates are also endorsed by the Democratic Party. How can this slate possibly be MAGA?

There is also an amazing level of hypocrisy demonstrated by Madigan, Maxwell, and the rest of the Dillon Cult (AKA Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee). At their annual fundraiser only a couple of months ago, Michele Madigan presented their Starbucks award to Matt Veitch. Matt is the long-serving representative of the city on the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. He is also a registered Republican.

The Dillon cult wants this year’s race to serve as a referendum on what is happening in Washington. They shrilly denounce One Saratoga for including three Republicans among their seven endorsed candidates. According to the Dillon Cult, if One Saratoga supports a Republican for office, then they are adherents to the MAGA wing of the Republican Party and want to overthrow our democracy. The fact that none of the Republicans endorsed by One Saratoga supports the narrative that Biden stole the election, nor do they condone the violence on January 6, means nothing to the Dillon Cult. When it suits their cause, they honor Republicans like Matt, but when they want to sow fear, they condemn One Saratoga for daring to endorse three local Republicans who One Saratoga believes will do the best job for the city.

Report To the New York State Board of Elections By Real One Saratoga

Letter Sent By Otis Maxwell, Chair of the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee, To Area Media

From: Otis Maxwell <otis.maxwell@saratogadems.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 2, 2025 4:31 PM
To: Aaron Shellow-Lavine <alavine@wamc.org>
Subject: Has One Saratoga (OS) become a Money Laundering operation for MAGA?

Aaron,

Attached is a letter we submitted this week to the New York State Board of Elections Enforcement Counsel questioning suspect donations made by two Saratoga Springs residents to the One Saratoga campaign. 

We are concerned that One Saratoga is being used as a MAGA front organization, hiding the real donors, washing money through candidates’ campaign coffers, and standing ready to do the bidding of the big developers when it comes to planning, zoning and building activity. The activities described in the letter are one concern, but there are others.

On August 13, Bonita and Richard Sellers wrote 14 checks to OS from their own accounts, and on September 10, Richard Sellers donated an additional $100 in cash.  The total donations from the Sellers adds to $6,400.  They had previously given $500 each to the campaigns of Republicans Chuck Marshall (Commissioner of Public Works) and George Ehinger (Supervisor).

Our question is “why so many checks from one couple on one day to one campaign?”  Are they trying to hide the true source of the funds?  We have asked the BOE to investigate, and to take any appropriate legal action, which could include ordering One Saratoga to disgorge the funds.

In addition to the possible breach of campaign financial law by One Saratoga, MAGA’s influence over OS is evident in other ways:

• Rep. Elise Stefanik donated $1,000 on May 17 to the OS candidate for Public Works, Republican Chuck Marshall, who then passed $500 on to Jess Troisi, OS’s Accounts Commissioner candidate on July 8. It is worth noting that the DPW Commissioner controls the City Engineer’s permitting office for new developments, while the Accounts Commissioner controls property assessments, i.e. taxes that big developers would pay. 

• The OS candidate for County Supervisor, George Ehinger, has paid more than $2,800 to Stefanik’s PAC, Save New York Now, which has a Wilton address. It seems reasonable to ask what Ehinger is paying her PAC to do for him, while Marshall has taken $1,000 from Stefanik.   

• (Footnote: Stefanik’s Save New York Now website Join our fight to Save New York! boasts of her “flipping the city of Saratoga Springs, a longtime Democrat stronghold, to Republican control. Her fundraising efforts and her political team are critical to numerous victories for Republicans across New York.”)

• Heidi Owen West’s committee, Heidi For Mayor, has donated $900 to One Saratoga but has failed to file her committee’s report with the Board of Elections, as of October 2.  Her committee’s previous report in July reported “no activity,” so it is reasonable to ask what was the source of funds she used to make such a substantial donation to One Saratoga.   Her January 15 report showed her $1,000 donation to Marshall’s Special Election campaign, but showed no donations so that voters could determine where the money came from.

One Saratoga has a worthy tradition extolling “city before party,” but it has been usurped by MAGA.  The voters of Saratoga Springs expect and deserve transparency from their candidates and the campaigns, and the actions above are anything but. 

Our letter to the NYSBOE is self-explanatory.  If you have any questions, please reach out to me by email or by phone or text to 415-515-8240.

Thanks,

Otis Maxwell, Chair

Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee–

Hank Kuczynski
Kuczynski Associates
153 Spring Street
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 12866
518-376-1298

[Lew Benton has asked me to post the following.]

John,

It Can’t Happen Here is a 1935 dystopian political novel by Sinclair Lewis. Set in a fictionalized 1930s United States against the backdrop of ascending fascism in Europe and the rise of Nazi Germany, it follows an American politician, Berzelius “Buzz” Windrip, who quickly rises to power to become the country’s first outright dictator (an allusion to Adolf Hitler’s rise to power at the same time), and a newspaper editor who sees Windrip’s fascist policies for what they are.

The novel describes the rise of Windrip, a demagogue who is elected President after fomenting fear and promising drastic economic and social reforms while promoting a return to patriotism and “traditional” values, a’ la Donald Trump.

He campaigned on a populist platform, promising to restore the country to prosperity and greatness, and promising each citizen $5,000 per year while portraying himself as a championof “the forgotten man” and “traditional” American values. Sound familiar?

After his election, Windrip takes complete control of the government via self-coup and imposes totalitarian rule with the help of a ruthless paramilitary force and cowering sycophants. He outlaws dissent, incarcerates political enemies, eliminates the influence of the Congress, curtails women’s and minority rights and corrupts the court system.

Of course, then, It Can”t Happen Here seemed a fantastical nightmare. But now, ninety years on, it is happening and in broad daylight and for all to see. It is getting worse everyday. The VA health care system has been hobbled by layoffs, the National Guard is dispatched to quell nonexistent civil disturbances, the House Speaker is totally emasculated and the military is ominously rebranded and renamed. Trump lives vicariously through the military because he was deemed “unfit” to serve by his draft board in 1968.

Is Trump the contemporary “Buzz” Windrip, the demagogue and fascist leaning politician portrayed by Lewis in “It Can’t Happen Here.” It is now as plain as day. But Trump is worse. A convict, a sexual predator, a petty, vicious ‘man’ who revels in calling others names, taking health benefits from the marginalized and, now, shutting down the government.

The Country seems to have passed the tipping point and we have no one to blame but ourselves if we standby and do nothing.

Lew Benton

Why does the leadership of the local Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee fear One Saratoga?

Democrats enjoy a wide registration lead over Republicans in Saratoga Springs. As of March, there were approximately 8600 (40.5%) registered Democrats and 6800 Republicans (28.5%) in the city. Democratic candidates should be pretty much guaranteed victory with those kinds of registration numbers. Yet the Democrats lost all the contested City races in 2023, primarily because a group called One Saratoga had candidates in those races.

This year, One Saratoga gathered over 1,000 signatures to put a full slate of candidates on the November ballot for city offices. The city’s Democratic leadership appears to be worried.

The strategy the local Democrats seem to be following is not to criticize the credentials or records of the One Saratoga candidates or to engage in a discussion of local issues. Rather, their strategy is to try to nationalize the city’s elections. By playing on local Democrats’ fears about Donald Trump’s presidency, they hope to encourage local Democrats to vote for the Democratic Committee’s endorsed candidates regardless of the quality of those candidates.

To carry out their campaign strategy, the SSDC chair, Otis Maxwell, enlisted Gordon Boyd and Hank Kuczynski to craft a targeted mailing to all Democratic and “No Party” registered voters who had signed the One Saratoga petition that secured a spot on the November ballot. Maxwell’s hope was to convince petition signers falsely that One Saratoga had been “co-opted by Elise Stefanik and local MAGA influencers” (whoever they are). This, despite the fact that two Democratic-endorsed candidates appear also on the One Saratoga line and another One Saratoga candidate is a registered Democrat.

This excerpt from the Democratic letter is representative both in tone and substance. The full letter can be found on the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee website:

There is a good reason Elise Stefanik and local MAGA Republicans are co-opting One Saratoga. Many voters are outraged by the actions of the current administration in Washington and local Republicans echo their MAGA tactics through lawsuits, bullying and personal attacks on anyone who disagrees with them. One Saratoga is simply a way to vote for Republican candidates without actually voting for them on the Republican line. Don’t be fooled. Please vote Democratic Row A when you go to the polls this November, or when you vote early or by absentee.

One Saratoga’s Response

One Saratoga Chair, Courtney DeLeonardis issued the following reply:

“Saratoga Springs Democratic Chair Otis Maxwell recently sent a letter to all the Democrats and No Party registrants who signed the One Saratoga petition last spring to get their endorsed candidates on the ballot for the November city election. The letter was crafted by Gordon Boyd and Hank Kuczynski.  The letter used the one piece of accurate  information, that Elise Stefanik had sent a contribution to one of the endorsed candidates, to assert that One Saratoga had been taken over by some Maga faction of the local Republican Party.  

Both Boyd and Kuczynski know that One Saratoga Chair Courtney DeLeonardis is a lifelong Democrat who chaired the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee. They also know that almost all the members of One Saratoga are Democrats and were Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee members.  This includes former Democratic Executive Committee member Jay Partridge and former Public Safety Commissioner Chris Mathiesen, as well as former Democratic Deputy Mayor Joe Ogden. Jane Weihe, another member, chaired the Democratic city committee for over a decade, chaired the Saratoga County Democratic Committee, was a member of the New York State Democratic Committee, a delegate to a Democratic Presidential Nominating Convention, and twice a Democratic candidate for city office. To claim that these individuals are now pawns of the Republican Party is absurd.

The extreme example of disinformation represented by Maxwell’s letter is emblematic as to why One Saratoga was established.  The members of One Saratoga seek to offer the citizens of Saratoga a balanced ticket and an alternative to the toxic environment that has infected both national and local politics.  One Saratoga focuses entirely on city politics.  We believe that whatever people’s differences are on the national issues that so bitterly divide our country, people of good will from all political persuasions can come together around how to better govern our city.  One Saratoga believes deeply that the way a party campaigns will define the way it will govern.  Saratoga Springs is a gem. It is our hope that the voters will share our vision and will provide our candidates the privilege of serving in the next elected Council.”

On Saturday, September 20, 2025, Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford was returning to City Hall from the dedication of a park in honor of the late Tommy McTygue when he was stopped by Joe Seeman, a local activist. Seeman was in front of the Post Office protesting the Trump presidency.

Seeman asked Safford if he thought that Trump lost the election in 2020 or whether he (meaning Trump) was cheated. When Safford attempts to answer, Seeman interrupts him, insisting it is a yes or no question. Safford offers that “a lot of people see just one side. A lot of people see another side. What we need to do is find a way to talk in the middle. Right now we are so divided. That’s what we are trying to do here in the city with One Saratoga.” As Safford tries to explain what he means, Seeman talks over him, making a discussion impossible. Safford then realizes that this is not a serious attempt at dialogue and excuses himself. The entire dialogue, which lasts one minute and forty-nine seconds, is included at the bottom of this post.

I would have preferred that Mayor Safford had simply answered “no,” but I know John Safford, and I know this was his attempt to soften the bitter divide that is tearing the country apart. I also knew that his failure to be direct in his answer would be exploited, despite Safford’s actual position.

Going For The Throat

Several hours later, Mayoral candidate Michele Madigan put up the video of Safford’s exchange with Seeman, along with the following text:

Realizing that he was being misrepresented, Safford responded to Madigan’s comment with an unequivocal statement contradicting Madigan’s narrative:

Rather than graciously accepting Safford’s statement and moving on, Madigan offered the following, and “boosted” the video so it would appear all over the internet:

Further exposing the ugly nature of this incident, Joe Seeman posted his comment following Madigan’s. Here are several crude and angry statements from Seeman regarding the incident. He responded to Mayor Safford with:

When I defended Safford, Seeman wrote:

In effect, Seeman doubles down, questioning the integrity of Mayor Safford’s stated position.

Is This Just Politics?

Many readers of this blog may dismiss all this as just politics. Madigan and Seeman are simply taking advantage of Safford’s error in not responding to Seeman’s question with a simple “no.” The fact that Safford’s failure to answer “no” does not represent his actual position is being buried by Madigan’s and Seeman’s continued promotion of this incident.

Expect to see the misrepresentation of Safford’s position in Madigan’s ads and mailings as we approach the coming election.

The Video

[I received this piece from former Mayor Meg Kelly. It addressed claims made by Michele Madigan in a recent letter that appeared in the Saratogian.]

In her August 16th Reader’s View, Michele Madigan proffers her plan to “fix” the Planning, Zoning, and Building Department.  However, in doing so, she reveals her lack of knowledge and understanding of the very department she seeks to oversee.

She claims that, if elected, she will “launch a digital permitting and inspection system” to address delays.  This idea, or plan, is not new and is already being implemented by Mayor John Safford.  Indeed, the City Council approved a multi-year contract with Granicus several months ago for a cloud-based management system to support permitting, inspections, and other services.  The system is expected to be fully operational in the coming months. It will provide the Building Department with the digital tools necessary to enhance operational efficiency, transparency, and community engagement. 

She also indicates that she will “introduce Temporary Certificates of Occupancy (TCOs) for safe, unfinished properties so residents and builders aren’t left in limbo.”  However, she fails to either understand or appreciate that the ability to provide for TCOs already exists and, thus, there is nothing for her to “introduce”.  Chapter 118 of our City Code explicitly covers this, and our Building Department regularly issues temporary or conditional COs to allow for occupancy prior to the completion of all necessary work when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

She incorrectly refers to our Design Review Board as a “Commission” and then baselessly claims that they are not adhering to the standards relating to the historic district, which she will somehow address, if elected, and “ensure” their adherence.  The Design Review Board is an independent body with authority to review all development activities within the historic and architectural overlay districts, and it is not controlled by the mayor.  It is comprised of community members who volunteer their time to protect the integrity of those districts and to ensure that all activities adhere to the strict criteria outlined in the UDO.  They provide an invaluable service to our community, and their efforts should be commended, not criticized in such a baseless manner.

During my term as Mayor, we successfully decreased permitting times and increased efficiency, even when the Comprehensive Budget put forward by Michele Madigan did not include the funds requested and deemed necessary to allow the department to handle the enormous volume of work it is responsible for.

John Safford is continuing these efforts.  He has hired additional staff, continued to digitize all records, and is implementing management software to expedite permitting and inspections, thereby better serving the community.  He is already doing what Michele Madigan purports to be her plan, and he already understands what she does not.

Respectfully,
Meg Kelly
Former Saratoga Springs Mayor

The New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), which Saratoga Springs Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran violated, is at the heart of a healthy democracy. It was enacted to ensure that citizens could be confident that their inquiries about government documents would be fairly and honestly addressed. This principle is at the heart of the trial and conviction of Dillon Moran.

On Friday, August 29, 2025, Saratoga Springs City Court Judge Jeffrey Wait found Dillon Moran guilty of three counts of unlawful obstruction of public records. Wait found that Moran had willfully and knowingly signed three false certifications in which he swore he did not have documents being sought under the Freedom of Information Law, which he, in fact, possessed.

Judge Wait Issues Decision

Judge Wait’s decision was clear, concise, and brief.

Selected Highlights From Testimony

These are a few of the most damaging testimonies during the trial.

According to testimony and documents, Moran informed the city’s FOIL officer that the texts on his personal cell phones were not subject to FOIL. This, despite being advised by both the FOIL officer and City Attorney Izzo that any of his private devices were subject to FOIL. His arrogance and intransigence in the face of this advice could not be defended.

According to testimony, Moran told the FOIL officer that it would take a judge’s order to make him release anything from his private cell phones. This was not the case.

According to testimony, he told another witness that he could communicate with him if he sent an “innocuous” text to Moran’s city cell phone as a trigger to have Moran call him, thus avoiding any written records of their conversation that he thought would be FOILable.

Moran threatened one of the witnesses, warning him he would “unleash his army” on him.

According to testimony, Moran kept private cell phones and a private email address to circumvent FOIL.

This Blogger’s Experience

When this blogger FOILed for any records related to how Moran determined the charges for restaurants and bars to use city sidewalks and parking spaces for outdoor dining, the response was that no such records existed. It begs credibility that there were no text messages or other communications for such a significant initiative. I had other similar experiences FOILing for documents on other issues involving Moran. It was apparent that Moran was routinely violating my FOIL requests, but I didn’t seem to have any recourse.

The Delusional Local Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee

Each day of the trial, a group of local Democrats attended the trial to support Moran. Among those were:

• Otis Maxwell, the current Chair of the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee
• Hank Kuczynski, who was the unsuccessful Democratic write-in candidate for Commissioner of Public Works last January
• Pat Tuz, who previously chaired the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee and is a current member of the Committee
• Martha Devaney, chair of the Saratoga County Democratic Committee
• Gordon Boyd , a member of the SS Democratic committee and the NY State Democratic Committee
• Michele Madigan, this year’s Democratic candidate for Mayor and a SS Democratic Committee member
• Matthew Taylor, who is working on Madigan’s campaign
• Gayle LaSalle, who is working on Madigan’s campaign
• Alice Smith, SS Democratic Committee member
• Jack Carter, SS Democratic Committee member
• Stacy Connors, Moran’s deputy
• B.K. Keramati, the endorsed Democratic candidate for Commissioner of Public Works and a SS Democratic Committee member

It was interesting to observe them. At the end of the second day’s testimony, it was clear that they were excited about the proceedings and believed Moran would prevail.

Ben Hill, Moran’s attorney, did his best but didn’t have much to work with. He spent a considerable amount of time crafting a narrative that portrayed Mike Brandi, the Saratoga Springs Republican Committee Chair as the mastermind behind pursuing what he characterized as political charges, against Moran. His cross-examination of Brandi showed that Brandi was directly in touch with the Sheriff’s office. He cited Brandi’s correspondence with the Sheriff’s Department, suggesting possible charges. Brandi also provided the Sheriff’s Department with the telephone numbers and information of the other three witnesses who testified. While Hill portrayed these moves by Brandi as inappropriate, prosecution attorney Joseph Frandino pointed out that if someone suspects a law has been broken these are steps that need to be taken.

Brandi seemed to thoroughly enjoy testifying. Brandi is an attorney who has worked for municipalities and is steeped in FOIL law. At times, he challenged Hill’s understanding of FOIL law. Moran’s supporters viewed Brandi as self-assured to the point of arrogance. It was clear that they felt Brandi’s attitude and actions undermined the prosecution’s case.

What they failed to understand was that whatever Brandi’s role may have been in orchestrating the case was irrelevant. As Judge Wait’s decision made clear, the central legal issue was whether Moran had deliberately withheld documents that he knew were not exempt from FOIL disclosure. The evidence was overwhelming that Moran had illegally withheld the documents.

Moran’s supporters should not have been shocked and surprised by Wait’s decision, but their passion to support Dillon had overcome their judgment.

Disgrace

I have written before that the leadership and members of the local Democratic Committee to me resemble a cult. As with most cults, they put loyalty before anything else. How else can one explain their full-throated support for a government official who blatantly violated the most fundamental element of government transparency, FOIL? Rather than distance themselves from Moran for his irresponsible and illegal behavior, they chose to be his champions. These events only tarnish their organization’s reputation. One has to ask, how will they attract thoughtful people to join the local committee and run for office when they support and excuse rather than admonish behavior such as that of Dillon Moran?

City Court Judge Jeffrey Wait found Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Accounts Dillon Moran guilty of all of three counts of unlawful obstruction of public access to records. He was fined $660.00.

Longer analysis coming.

The scandal that will not die-the missing checks

Saratoga Springs Deputy Accounts Commissioner Stacy Connors and former Deputy Mayor Angela Rella submitted claims to the city for money to which they were not entitled as part of the On-call Pay scandal. They were instructed by the Saratoga County DA to return the funds, which they both did. For reasons still unknown, the city returned the two women’s checks uncashed. Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi has refused to answer questions about how the money came to be returned, and she has failed to recover the money owed the city. In addition, Commissioner Sanghvi has never acknowledged that it was her office that inappropriately gave final approval to these payments.

A Narrative Of Incompetence And Cronyism

As readers will recall on February 21, 2023, the previous Saratoga Springs City Council under Mayor Ron Kim awarded a new benefit to compensate eligible Deputy Commissioners and the Deputy Mayor for being on-call.  The poorly crafted resolution, for various reasons, led to an investigation by the New York State Police.  The investigation revealed, among other things, that Deputy Accounts Commissioner Stacy Connors and then Deputy Mayor Angela Rella had improperly submitted requests for payment for periods not covered by the resolution.

The On-Call benefit was to begin on February 21, 2023 (see resolution at the end of this post). Both Rella and Connors requested pay for time allegedly spent on-call beginning in January of 2023 (see their time sheets at the end of this post). Setting aside the issue of whether these two Deputies or any of the others who collected this pay were actually ever performing on-call duties, the Rella and Coonors’ requests for pay before the benefit even began were a clear violation.

 Then Mayor Ron Kim and Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran signed off on these requests from their Deputies and the city’s Finance Department authorized the payments. I estimate that the total amount involved is $1,604.48.

This was a breakdown in the administration and oversight of payroll within the Finance Department. Under the city’s charter, the Finance Department is responsible for scrutinizing all invoices and requests for payment as a check on the other city departments.  There was a failure to adequately scrutinize Rella’s and Connors’ timesheets to confirm that they were eligible for payment.

Restitution

According to an article in the May 13, 2025, Times Union, the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office advised Stacy Connors that if she did not give back to the city the money she was paid before the On-call benefit even began, she was liable to be charged with petty larceny.  It is reasonable to assume Angela Rella received a similar notice.

Checks for $752.10 each were sent to the city by each of the attorneys representing the two to make restitution. 

For reasons unknown, the Finance Department did not deposit these checks. 

Despite repeated email requests, Minita Sanghvi, the Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Finance, has refused to disclose why her office refused to deposit the checks.

As it appears that Commissioner Sanghvi’s department has refused to accept the checks and has not implemented an alternative method of securing restitution, these two women will have received city money not rightfully theirs, and the city will have lost funds it is entitled to.

The Bizarre and Elusive Checks

In the Times Union article referenced above, Finance Commissioner Sanghvi’s deputy, Heather Crocker, received at least one of the checks.

She is quoted in the Times Union as follows:

“I’m accountable to the New York state comptroller,” Crocker wrote in an email to the city attorney on March24. “If we have an issue with improper payroll, the Finance Department must correct that, and include documentation in our records to explain to the auditors what happened and how it was resolved — e.g. a memo explaining the check, explaining why there is only one person’s check, a council approved resolution to correct the language that created the problem, etc. I am unable to show that with the information received thus far.”

This is particularly strange because the check she refers to was from Stacy Connors.  Connors and Crocker work in city offices directly across the hall from each other.  The distance between their respective chairs is less than fifty feet, and Connor’s name is on the check.

Crocker’s claim of ignorance does not seem credible.  Her alleged failure to inform herself of the check’s purpose by, at a minimum, engaging her colleague, Connors, seems very odd.

Commissioner Sanghvi Refuses Request To Explain Mysterious Checks

On June 18, 2025, I emailed Commissioner Sanghvi:

“Can you explain why the checks sent by Stacey Connors and Angella Rella as a result of the on-call have not been cashed?”

On June 22, 2025, Commissioner Sanghvi responded:

“Kindly speak to our City Attorney regarding this matter.”

On June 26, 2025, I emailed Sanghvi:

“I assume you are familiar with the section of the city charter describing the duties of the Commissioner of Finance, but I thought it would be helpful here to refer you to it.

4F Keeper of City financial records.  The Commissioner of Finance shall maintain complete and accurate financial records in accordance with standards established by the Comptroller of the State of New York and Section 4.3 of this charter.

As you were (are?) custodian of the checks from Stacy Connors and Angela Rella for, I believe roughly, $700.00 each, you are the person responsible for the handling of these checks.

If you are unsure about the purpose of these checks, you can walk across the hall to the Accounts Department and ask Ms. Connors why she wrote the check.  Similarly, you can call Congressman Paul Tonko’s office, where Ms. Rella works, and ask her.

I must ask, why does the City Attorney know about why these checks have apparently not been deposited and you do not?  This makes no sense on its face so I am looking forward to hearing from you. I ask again, why have both these checks not been deposited?”

The response to this email from Commissioner Sanghvi was an automatic reply informing me that her position is part-time and it may be some time before she can respond.

When I received no reply from Commissioner Sanghvi, I emailed her again on July 18, 2025, as follows:

I am disappointed you did not reply to my last email regarding the improper payments and restitution of money the city paid Stacy Connors and Angela Rella.

As you know in our form of government, as the Commissioner of Finance, you have the fiduciary responsibility of maintaining the integrity of the city’s finances. 

The final version of the resolution authorizing on-call pay adopted on February 21, 2023, states clearly, “The terms of this resolution shall take place on becoming effective on February 21, 2023.”

Ms. Rella claimed the entire year which included January 2, 2023 to February 21, 2023.

That calculates as follows:

7 weeks X $125.35 = $877.45

2 days X $25.07 = $50.14

Therefore, Ms. Rella owes the city $927.59. 

Ms. Connors claimed the period from January 9, 2023, to February 10, 2023 and February 20 to February 21.

That calculates as follows:

5 weeks X125.35 = $626.75

2 days X $25.07 = $50.14

Therefore Ms. Connors owes $676.89.

So the Finance Department improperly paid these two people $1,604.48.

As Finance Commissioner it is your fiduciary responsibility to recover this money for the city.

This issue is months old and the city has so far failed to recover the money.  Do you plan to pursue the return of this money?

This time I did not even get the automatic response reminding me that Commissioner Sanghvi’s position is only part-time and it may be some time before she replies.  I got silence.

Futile FOIL Request

Pursuing another track , I FOILed the city, requesting copies of the checks from Conners and Rella, along with any other related documents, emails, or texts regarding the handling of the checks.  The response included a series of emails with all the text redacted.  The FOIL response only provided the faces of the checks.  There was one brief letter from the law firm representing Rella.  The letter and check images are below.  The full response to my FOIL is attached as a PDF.

The following are the only unredacted documents from the FOIL that I received.  It is worth noting that by now, the checks are over ninety days old, making them invalid.

Final Summary

Basically, the fact that the Finance Department:

• improperly paid employees benefits for which they were not eligible
• received checks that apparently were meant as restitution which they have chosen not to deposit
• has failed to recover the money improperly paid to the employees

has been systematically hidden from the public.  FOIL requests for documents produced little of value.  Repeated requests of Commissioner Sanghvi for an explanation are not answered.

Without the assistance of a state agency to clarify what happened to the restitution checks and to advise the city how best to address the issues, the employees will be able to keep the city money to which they were not entitled and the city is deprived of money that should have been returned.

If Commissioner Sanghvi does not know how to fulfill her fiduciary responsibilities to the city she needs to reach out to the Comptroller for guidance.

Supporting Documents

The Resolution

The First Page of the Resolution

The image below is from the adopted resolution.  I have highlighted the key date in red. It establishes that the deputies were only eligible for on-call after February 21, 2024.

The Time Sheets

This is the sheet for Deputy Mayor Angela Rella for the first quarter of 2023.  It documents that she requested money from the city for a period not covered by the resolution.

This is the sheet for Accounts Deputy Stacy Connors for the first quarter of 2023.  It documents that she requested money from the city for a period not covered by the resolution.

For whatever reason, Saratoga Springs Democratic Mayoral candidate Michele Madigan has embraced a campaign of accusing this blogger of conspiring with Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll to victimize former Public Works Commissioner Jason Golub. She dismisses any suggestion that Golub is culpable of abusing his office by engaging the services of city employees, city equipment, and city materials to fix his clogged sink. This blogger has thoroughly reviewed this topic in the past. Unfortunately for Madigan, Coll, who had requested that the city’s Human Resources Department review the Golub matter, has released the result of that investigation. The report is clear. It confirms how Golub violated the city’s ethical norms (See below).

Golub Sues City

Attorney Brian C. Mahoney filed a “notice of claim” on August 15, 2025, on Golub’s behalf against the city of Saratoga Springs. This allows Golub to sue if he so chooses during the next six months.

The “notice” claims:

“…Jason Golub, was intentionally and maliciously investigated by the Saratoga Springs Police Department at the behest of Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Safety Time Coll.”

In fact, this blogger initiated the investigation by contacting the New York State Comptroller after being approached by two whistleblowers who had performed work on Golub’s home. The Comptroller’s office then referred the matter to law enforcement.

Golub’s lawyer’s claim contains several errors. The most damaging of which is the false statement: “Moreover, a previous inquiry in early 2024 into the matter by the City’s Human Resources department found no wrongdoing on the part of the claimant [Golub].”

In fact, the city’s Human Resources report on the findings of their investigation says the opposite. I have included the full report and encourage readers of this blog to read it.

It is rather astonishing that Golub’s attorney would assert that the Human Resources Department found no wrongdoing, given the actual report.

This is from their report:

[Redacted] allegation that he performed work at Mr. Golub’s private residence during work hours at the expense of the city is substantiated…..Based on the factual findings set forth above, it appears that Jason Golub and [redacted name] violated the Code of Ethics of the City.

Investigation Summary Report August 30, 2024

The entire report documents Golub’s use of city employees, city vehicles, city equipment, and city materials.

Blogger Drawn Into Potential Suit

In an email to me from Times Union reporter Wendy Liberatore, she informed me that she heard I was going to be deposed in this case.

On August 18, I was served with a “Litigation Hold Notice.” It instructed me to protect any emails, texts, and other relevant communications related to Golub’s potential suit. A friend who is an attorney was quite amused. He told me they could have just sent me the notice by registered mail instead of incurring the expense of paying someone to serve it to me physically, telling me that he thought they were trying to intimidate me.

Michele Madigan Calls Out The Blogger

The following is from the Michele Madigan for Mayor Facebook page. She continues to inaccurately describe what occurred at Jason Golub’s house and the judge’s ruling in the case (see the HR document below and previous blogs). In this posting she ventures into the dark world of imagined conspiracies . I am at a loss as to what she means by the blogger (me) being motivated by “political retribution.” Perhaps she will elaborate in future posts. I wonder if she will continue to pursue her energetic defense of Jason Golub after she reads the Human Resources report on Golub. Here are Madigan’s comments.

Here Is The Human Resources Report

For privacy reasons, the names have been redacted.