Incumbent mayor Valerie Keehn is still trying to win her first party line, and has gotten the Working Families Party to reconsider making an endorsement in the mayoral race.
So far, incumbent Democrats Supervisor Joanne Yepsen, Supervisor Cheryl Keyrouze, Public Safety Commissioner Ron Kim and Jane Weihe, Democratic candidate for finance commissioner, have won the trifecta of endorsements from the Democratic Party, the Independence Party and the Working Families Party, while incumbent Democratic Accounts Commissioner John Franck, running unopposed, has achieved an even rarer superfecta of Democrats/ Independence/ Working Families/ Conservatives. Public Works Commissioner Tom McTygue has received endorsements from the Democratic Party and Independence Party, but Working Families stayed away from the Keehn/McTygue rivalry, deciding not to make an endorsement in either race.
Gordon Boyd, who has challenged Keehn in the only primary, got the Conservative line over Republican Scott Johnson to go along with the endorsements of the Independence Party and the city Democratic Committee. However, the Democratic line on the ballot will be decided by voters in a September primary -- something the self-described "People's Mayor" will be counting on to have a chance of winning a second term.
If Keehn loses the primary, though, not having any party's line will make it more difficult for her to get on the ballot in November, so Working Families could be a valuable pick-up. For Boyd, a fourth nod would be most valuable in shutting out Keehn.
It could be tough for Boyd to get Working Families as well as with the Conservative nod - the WFP's Capital District chaper prioritizes living wage jobs, green jobs, clean energy initiatives and workforce development - although Franck managed it. Those issues seem to mesh with Keehn's proclaimed priorities, so the endorsement of the small party could take on symbolic importance.
Working Families has interviewed both Keehn and Boyd twice. Capital District chapter co-chair Karen Scharff said that although there will be no endorsement in the DPW race, they are reconsidering making a mayoral endorsement. A decision could be announced next week.
Johnson's fellow Republican candidates Matt Veitch for Supervisor, Richard Wirth for Public Safety, Ken Ivins for Finance and Skip Scirocco for Public Works received Conservative Party endorsements as well as that of the GOP.
Quick Endorsement Scorecard:
4 - Franck
3 - Boyd, Keyrouze, Kim, Weihe, Yepsen
2 - Ivins, McTygue, Scirocco, Veitch, Wirth
1 - Johnson
0 - Keehn
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3 comments:
Mr. Reinert, my name is Rick Thompson and I am the founder of Citizens For Good Government. While the Charter Change lost last year I think it is hilarious that the anti-charter group is making endorsements this year. The top 3 leaders of this group were Gordon Boyd, Tom McTygue & Remiga Foy. While I have no clue as to the thinking of any candidate to change the outdated form of government, Ms. Foy was quoted in your article as saying"her groups intent is to protect and preserve the City Council system of government..." She was also quoted as saying "We have a clean slate and an open mind". How can this be? The 2 quotes are at 2 ends of the spectrum which you didn't pick up. Also the Republican challenger Mr. Johnson was not at 1 meeting or work shop and remember that Jen Scariano then City Republican Chairwoman in a picture with Shawn Thompson promoted the idea of changing the form of government. It wasn't until the new Chairman came into power that the Republicans went into a shell because they did not want to promote a Democrats idea. Remember also that Mayor Lenz conviened a Charter group. Also, how can Ms. Foy be objective when as said before that Tom McTygue being a leader of the anti charter group rewarded Ms. Foy by giving her live in the Deputy Commissioner's position? Will Mr. Boyd also cut business ties with City Hall until after he loses the election so as not to appear to have a conflict of interest?
Rick Thompson
Saratoga Springs
So, I read where SUCCESS is going to interview and endorse candidates. The fading Remiga Foy has taken over the organization from one of its founders Gordon Boyd. She also say’s that the group has a clean slate, an open mind. She may have a mind but it is not opened, and no I don’t think Tom Mctygue can use words with more than 5 letters in it.
Being the psychic that I am I will give you the list of candidates SUCCESS will endorse:
Gordon Boyd, Tom McTygue, John Franck, Joann Yepsin, Cheryl Kerouze, Ms. Wie or Wye whoever. Now there is a fuzzy area I can’t see through. Matt Vietch is the strongest candidate for supervisor, with Cheryl Kerouze the weakest, but this group will most likely go with the current 2 supervisors. Ron Kim is the most qualified for Public Safety but we all know with this group (SUCCESS) it’s not the interview or the platform you propose it’s whether you will become a SUCCESS zombie that will matter.
I would suggest other than the organizers of SUCCESS, Gordon Boyd & Tom McTygue, anyone getting an endorsement please turn it down. It’s just another Remiga Foy toy.
Swami Rick
Will any of you people ever get it through your head that the vast majority of the people of Saratoga Springs don’t want charter reform, Are you going to beat this dead horse.
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