I recently secured a copy of the October 14, 2024, interview by Saratoga Springs Police Lieutenant Paul Veitch of former Public Works Commissioner Jason Golub that was part of the investigation into Golub’s use of city employees to do work at a property Golub owned. The transcript reveals a very different Jason Golub than the public usually saw. His language is laced with epithets, his behavior angry, petulant, and unprofessional.
Background
Golub’s use of city employees to work on a residence he owned is thoroughly explored in this earlier post. As a reminder, below are excerpts from the city’s Human Resources Department that found Golub guilty of improper use of city employees.
Contrast this with Golub’s remark to Veitch.
The Plumbers Statement
This is the statement that the plumber made to Lieutenant Veitch. It conflicts with Jason Golub’s. According to the plumber, he and a second city employee went to Golub’s house on the second day, not once but twice. The second visit lasted half an hour, not eight minutes. Unlike Jason, the plumber remembers clearly what happened on the second day. The two snakes the plumber used were the city’s property, as was the liquid used to clear the drain. They were also in a city truck.
The plumber is also clear that Jason Golub did not pay him for the work over two days.
Golub’s Memory
As these excerpts document, unlike the plumber, Jason Golub had a lot of trouble remembering the events, particularly of the second day. In this first excerpt, he doesn’t remember that the plumber came on the second day, that Golub let him in, that he came a second time for thirty minutes, accompanied by another employee, and that Golub let him in.
Mr. Shreiber, in the documents, is Golub’s lawyer.
Why Would The Plumber Perform Work On Golub’s Home For Free?
In the interview, Golub states several times that he did not know the plumber before the plumber came to the house to fix the sink.
The plumber performed the work because Joe O’Neill, Golub’s deputy, directed the plumber to be there, prompted by Golub. It is clear from the interview that the plumber did not go to Golub’s home because he knew the Commissioner and wanted to help him as a friend.
Golub Did Not Pay The City Plumber For The Drain Work
So if the plumber was at his home, allegedly not on city time, and they had no personal connection, like a friendship, why didn’t Golub offer to pay the plumber? For that matter, why didn’t the plumber ask to be paid?
Golub has conflicting explanations.
Note that at one point, he claims to have paid him the first time he came to his home.
The plumber returned on an unspecified date for a third time to work on Golub’s water heater. This is when he allegedly paid the plumber $200.00.
Golub Has No Idea Whether The Plumber Used A City Vehicle to Visit His House On Either Visit Or Where The Liquid Declogger Came From
Plumber’s Alleged Threats
Golub claims that the plumber sent him threatening texts and emails. The implication was that the plumber was supposedly trying to extort him.
So, after telling Veitch he had received threatening emails, he later says they only communicated by text messages.
When Veitch asks to see these texts and emails, Golub says he deleted them. When Veitch asks whether the threats are on the city server, Golub says no.
So somehow the plumber got Golub’s personal cell phone number and private email address.
Golub did, however, go out for coffee with the plumber to try to get him off his back.
Golub’s Lawyer Cherry Picked
Golub’s lawyer is promoting the narrative that Jason Golub’s victimization is being driven by Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Coll. He references a comment by Veitch, “I totally agree. This is a big pile of what the fuck.” Of course, Golub’s lawyer is aware that interrogators will try to ingratiate themselves with the interviewee to build trust.
The lawyer disregards the section of the transcript in which Veitch observes that Golub could be charged with petty larceny or official misconduct.
It is interesting that when Golub complains that the Public Safety Department is leaking damaging stuff to the press. Veitch sharply denies this.
I was curious about how the leadership of the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee and their candidates would respond to the guilty verdict in the Dillon Moran case, their candidate for Commissioner of Accounts. Apparently, it has had no effect on their loyalty to him and their support for his candidacy.
Saratoga Springs Democratic Chair Otis Maxwell, Democratic mayoral candidate Michele Madigan, and Democratic committee member Jim Thompson all used the public comment period at the September 2, 2025, City Council meeting to oppose censuring Moran.
Censure
The impetus for their attendance at this particular City Council meeting was an item on Democratic Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll’s agenda to censure Dillon Moran in light of his conviction.
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) defines censure as:
A formal statement of reprimand, disapproval, or condemnation of a person, action, etc., typically as a form of disciplinary action by a legislative body, professional organization, etc.
The full resolution appears at the end of this blog. The only other time I am aware of when the City Council voted to censure one of its members was in the case of a former mayor. In that case, that mayor was found to have violated the city’s ethics code by soliciting employment from Saratoga Hospital while the hospital had business pending before the Council.
In this case, Moran was found guilty of even more serious misconduct with his conviction on three counts of violating the New York State Penal Law. City Court Judge Jeffrey 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.
The censure resolution asserts the further seriousness of Moran’s actions, given that, under our charter, as Accounts Commissioner, he is responsible for the integrity of the city’s records.
The resolution passed three to two with Moran and Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi voting against the motion. I wrote to Commissioner Sanghvi asking why she opposed the censure, but consistent with the past, she did not reply. Moran’s decision to participate in the discussion and vote was clearly a conflict of interest.
Supporting the resolution were Commissioners Coll and Public Works Commissioner Chuck Marshall, and Mayor John Safford.
The Tortured Arguments Against Censure
Democratic chair Otis Maxwell sent out an appeal for Dillon supporters to turn out at the Council meeting to protest the censure resolution. Only two people showed up to speak about that at the meeting’s public comment period. Otis and Democratic Committee member Jim Thompson were joined by Democratic mayoral candidate Michele Madigan, who left her seat at the Supervisor’s table to take to the microphone on Dillon’s behalf.
The following videos are of what they said at the public comment period. Each is three minutes long.
Jim Thompson, Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee Member
Rather than addressing the charges against Moran, Mr. Thompson began his remarks by characterizing the proceedings in Judge Wait’s court as a “spectacle” involving the judge, court personnel, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department, and the DA’s office, among others. According to Thompson, “all engaged in a spectacle engineered by the chair of the Republican Party against Dillon Moran.”
For Mr. Thompson, Moran is simply the victim of one giant conspiracy. Judge Wait is a Democrat and a thoughtful jurist. The idea that he is a tool of the Republican city chair is quite amazing.
Otis Maxwell, Chair of the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee
Chairman Maxwell began his remarks by praising Mr. Thompson for his “very eloquent summary of what happened last week at that trial.” He continued to promote the narrative that Moran was simply the victim of a vast conspiracy, ignoring evidence that came out in court, such as Moran’s use of two cell phones to try to circumvent FOIL.
He argued that Moran had already initiated an appeal, and that while the appeal is pending, no action should be taken regarding censure as, he incorrectly states, “facts can change on appeal”.
Michele Madigan, Candidate For Mayor
Madigan begins by claiming she is motivated to speak by Jim Thompson’s remarks. She then quickly segues into complaining that Mike Brandi had just contacted two of her friends that week, seeking texts and emails they may have sent or received from Madigan that might damage her.
I contacted Brandi, who dismissed her allegations. I contacted Madigan to ask whether she could provide the names of the two people he allegedly contacted. She responded with the single word, “No.”
Martha Devaney, Saratoga County Democratic Committee Chair
The most disturbing and unusual comments came from Saratoga County Democratic chair Martha Devaney, who spoke at the public comment period at the next City Council meeting on September 16. I have never heard a chair of either party publicly say, particularly at a City Council meeting, that one of their party’s endorsed candidates was “an embarrassment to the city.” The individual who drew this public rebuke was not Dillon Moran, who had just been convicted of violating the penal code and who has many other pending allegations, but Democratic candidate and current Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll. In her eyes, his most egregious offense was calling for Moran’s censure and asking the Governor to review Moran’s actions.
Devaney’s public remarks followed an email exchange she had with Cole that appears in its entirety at the end of this post.
On September 7, 2025, Devaney wrote to Commissioner Coll, asking why Moran’s conviction was not sufficient for him and why it was necessary to censure him. Coll promptly responded to her that day. He reminded her that Moran’s conviction was directly related to his official duties. He quoted from Judge Wait’s verdict:
“Commissioner Moran had a second telephone for the very purpose of concealing reviewable records. He then signed, sworn certification which stated that the records did not exist when he knew that to be false.”
Judge Jeffery Wait
Coll reminded her that Moran claimed that a contribution to the candidacy of Joe Seeman by someone named “Jack MeOff” had originated with Moran’s PayPal account. Moran claimed, without providing evidence, that somehow someone had “hacked” his account.
Coll also reminded her that it is within the Governor’s authority to remove elected officials from office when appropriate. The censure resolution included language requesting that Governor Hochul review the case.
During the public comment period for the September 16, 2025, Council meeting, Devaney read a subsequent letter she had written to Coll.
Chairperson Devaney, reading from her letter, expressed surprise that Coll would seek censure for Moran beyond his conviction. She accused him of “grandstanding” and asserted that Coll sought censure because of his dislike of Moran. What she fails to do is address and rebut the arguments Coll provided in his email to her for censure.
Most disturbing (and bizarre) is her allegation in her letter that Saratoga County Administrator Steve Bulger contacted the Governor’s office and told them that Coll’s actions were “ridiculous.”
One has to ask: Why would Steve Bulger, a Republican, contact the Democratic Governor’s office over this matter? More so, why would Bulger characterize Coll’s behavior as ridiculous?
Mr. Bulger has apparently written to Ms. Devaney, stating that her information regarding his involvement is false and requesting that she acknowledge this. He also asked for the name of the person in the Governor’s office whom she alleges he talked to. I understand Devaney told Bulger she would not provide the name.
I emailed Devaney asking who in the Governor’s office reported that Bulger said this. She wrote back to me that she would not provide a name.
(Devaney’s email, along with Coll’s response can be viewed at the bottom of this post).
The Cenure Resolution
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK
Censuring Commissioner of Accounts, Dillon Moran, for violations of the New York State Public Officers Law, New York State Penal Law, and the Saratoga Springs City Charter
WHEREAS, the right to request and access records maintained by government agencies is essential for a functioning democracy and has long been established as a basic obligation necessary to ensure transparency and accountability and to allow for a more informed and trusting public; and
WHEREAS, such right is codified in Article 6 of the New York State Public Officers Law, known as the “Freedom of Information Law’\ which declares that “government is the public’s business” and the public’s right to an open and accessible government “should not be thwarted”; and
WHEREAS, Section 240.65 of the New York State Penal Law renders it unlawful for a governmental official to intentionally prevent public access to records subject to FOIL through willful concealment or destruction; and
WHEREAS, on August 29, 2025, following a multi-day trial, Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Accounts, Dillon Moran, was found guilty by the Honorable Jeffrey D. Wait, Saratoga Springs City Court, of three (3) separate counts of New York State Penal Law Section 240.65, and did unlawfully prevent public access to records; and
WHEREAS, the unlawful actions of Commissioner Moran are, in addition to the New York State Penal Law, in violation of the City Charter, Section 2.2; demonstrate incompetency in and maladministration of his office, and constitute a breach of official duty and of the public trust; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes both its responsibility and its limitations in addressing such misconduct under the City Charter and New York State Law and intends, therefore, to request appropriate review and action by the governor of the State of New York, pursuant to Section 33 of the Public Officers Law, in addition to those actions of the City Council as set forth herein.
NOW,THEREFORE,BEITRESOLVEDby the City Council of the City of Saratoga Springs as follows:
The City Council hereby censures Commissioner Moran and rebukes his unlawful prevention of public access to records in violation of Section 89 of the New York State Public Officers Law, Section 240.65 of the New York State Penal Law, and Section 2.2 of the City Charter.
The City Council hereby requests that the New York State Governor, review and investigate the unlawful conduct of Commissioner Moran as described herein and to take all actions deemed necessary and appropriate under Section 33 of the Public Officers Law.
The Mayor shall cause a copy of this resolution to be forwarded to the New York State Governor indicating the Council’s request for the aforesaid review and investigation.
Devaney/Coll Exchange
On Sun, Sep 7, 2025 at 10:14 AM Martha Devaney <> wrote:
Hi Tim,
I hope you had an enjoyable summer.
I would like to touch base regarding your recent Resolution to censure Commissioner Moran.
Specifically, I would like to understand why you felt it necessary to take this action.
And, further, why you brought this to the Governor’s office.
Judge Waite tried and issued a sentence on this matter. Why was this not sufficient?
I do not understand:
1. Judge Waite’s handling of the matter was not sufficient for you
2. what your motivation was to initiate and issue a censure against a fellow Commissioner
3. how or why you think sending the censure to the Governor’s office could be beneficial to the city
Please reply to help me understand. Thank you.
Martha, chair
Saratoga County Democratic Committee
From: Tim Coll <> Date: Sun, Sep 7, 2025, 11:33 AM Subject: Re: Questions To: Martha Devaney <>
Martha-
As I have stated publicly, Commissioner Moran’s actions were egregious. He was convicted (beyond a reasonable doubt) by a judge for conduct directly related to his official duties, which clearly demonstrated fraud. In Judge Wait’s words: “Commissioner Moran had a second telephone for the very purpose of concealing reviewable records. He then signed, sworn certification which stated that the records did not exist when he knew that to be false.”
Commissioner Moran is the official record keeper of the City, and I believe his actions, along with other troubling behavior, such as the false allegation that his PayPal account was “hacked” to send money under the moniker Jack Meoff, make him unfit for office. Many in our community share this belief.
According to our City Charter, Section 2.8, the only person who has the authority to remove him from office is the Governor. That is why I have submitted the matter to the Governor so she may decide whether or not to remove him.
Finally, as I have told him, in the public domain, he is an embarrassment to the city and it just never stops.
Additionally, I plan on having follow up conversations with Bobby Logan and this will be one of the items I will discuss with him.
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 Saratogaand 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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
A complaint was that these checks were written in one day. I’m asking, why is this a problem?
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
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.
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.
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.
Historically, the spirit of honoring events like 9/11, the passing of Presidents, and the passing of other public figures by the lowering of the American flag has been to unite our people in the face of grief and sacrifice.
The Spirit of the Flag
This from a website:
According to the GSA, American flags are traditionally flown at half-staff in times of national mourning, following major tragedies, or in observance of remembrance days. They are also lowered in the event of the death of government and military officials.
WCNC September 15, 2025
The U.S. Flag Code, which outlines flag display rules, includes specific guidelines for honoring top political officials. However, it also grants the U.S. President the authority to order flags to be flown at half-staff for the death of other current or former officials, as well as individuals the President deems significant.
Emblematic was the honor afforded to John McCain upon his death. This was a man who risked his life on behalf of our country and endured years of deprivation as a prisoner of the North Vietnamese. While I disagreed with Senator McCain on many issues, he had my deep respect. In an age when ambition is increasingly obscured by the pretense of alleged principle, Senator McCain set his own course.
The lowering of the flag was an affirmation of his life, one that all citizens could understand.
Condemnation Of Political Violence
The murder of Charlie Kirk, following the murders of Melissa Hortman and her husband (she was the Democratic Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives), is deeply disturbing. The trend of this kind of political violence is a threat to our democracy. Seeking change through violence rather than through debate is about power and not justice.
It speaks to the quality of our local community that the leaders of the major political organizations in Saratoga Springs issued the following statement:
The Troubling History Of Charlie Kirk
While I vehemently disagree with many of Mr. Kirk’s statements, I strongly support his right to free speech, which affords him the right to hold and share these views.
In fact, to his credit, Mr. Kirk thrived on spirited but civil exchanges. He was a frequent visitor to colleges and universities where he regularly engaged students with whom he sharply disagreed.
Here are some statements he has made that I find particularly troubling, though:
“We made a huge mistake when we passed the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s.”
From a talk in December 2023, at a session during America Fest sponsored by Turning Point. Mr. Kirk attributed the recent conflict over Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to the passage of this legislation.
Regardless of one’s stance on the value of DEI, I believe a compelling argument can be made that DEI is an extension of America’s struggle with racism, of which the Civil Rights Act was a significant component. What is disturbing to me is that Mr. Kirk appears oblivious to the important role that the Act had in overcoming the impediments that black people had to endure to secure the right to vote.
Kirk, during the same event, characterized Martin Luther King as “a bad guy.” To the best of my knowledge, this characterization was based on the fact that King played a pivotal role in the movement that led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act. As I, among many Americans, believe in the positive role the Civil Rights Act played in extending the right to vote to all Americans, I naturally disagree with Kirk.
“Jewish donors have a lot of explaining to do. A lot of decoupling to do,” he said. “Because Jewish donors have been the No. 1 funding mechanism of radical, open border neoliberal quasi-Marxist policies, cultural institutions and nonprofits. This is a beast created by secular Jews. And now it’s coming for Jews, and they’re like, ‘What on Earth happened?’ And it’s not just the colleges. It’s the nonprofits, it’s the movies, it’s Hollywood, it’s all of it.”
While it is true that some Jews have played a role in funding progressive causes, it is unclear to me why he felt the need to single out Jews (this blogger is Jewish). It is extraordinary, verging on the bizarre, that he credits a stew of all things to his left, as created by secular Jews. This narrative smacks of a similar line taken by the Nazis that Jews were the force behind the corrupting of Germany.
According to the website FactCheck.Org:
Kirk rejected complaints that he was antisemitic, saying that in earlier episodes he had said he was “glad that Jewish Americans are reconsidering their financing of cultural Marxism, and people misunderstood it intentionally and slandered us as being antisemites.”
I do not find this a credible defense, but readers of this blog may see this issue differently.
Mr. Kirk famously observed that the 2nd amendment is worth the cost of “some gun deaths.”
This was a provocative statement, especially since he offered it only days after three children and three adults were killed in a school shooting in Nashville.
Unfortunately, mass shootings of innocent people have become increasingly common. It is difficult to assess his statement, as I am unsure how broadly he interprets the Second Amendment. What troubles me is the cavalier timing and nature of his remarks in light of the suffering of the family members and friends of those slain in the shootings that had just taken place.
The Great Decline
As noted earlier, the tradition of lowering our colors has emphasized the importance of uniting the country. Accompanying President Trump’s issuing the directive to lower the flag to half-mast at Federal buildings for Charlie Kirk, Trump issued a cringeworthy statement blaming the amorphous “radical left” for creating the atmosphere that led to Kirk’s murder.
Putting aside that President Trump expressed no similar feelings regarding the murders and assaults of Democrats during his two terms, he has degraded the spirit that should accompany the lowering of our colors. Whether you agree with Mr. Kirk or not, he is a very divisive figure. The same tradition of lowering the flag that honors the many Americans who have died in defense of this country, and those who were murdered on 9/11, should not be used to divide and sow bitterness. We are better than that.
[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.
Saratoga Springs Politics 