With two-year terms and a unique structure of government, Saratoga Springs’ candidates for city government often face fierce political opposition. New to this year is Saratoga PAC – an organization that has raised more than $50,000 and has endorsed a bipartisan slate of candidates.
Saratoga Springs has its own political action committee – an unusual twist in a busy local election year.
The Saratoga PAC is not giving directly to campaigns, but has focused on a survey of city residents. Bob Manz is chair of the Saratoga PAC board of directors…
“The survey was a key point in being completed to identify what priorities residents of Saratoga had as far as issues within the Saratoga area,” said Manz.
More than 1,100 Saratoga Springs residents responded to the survey, both through the mail and online. Survey questions focused on issues like infrastructure, workforce, and even the Saratoga National Golf Club expansion proposal. Using the survey results, the PAC endorsed its candidates.
For mayor, the PAC selected Republican John Safford over first-term incumbent Democrat Joanne Yepsen. For Finance Commissioner: Democratic incumbent Michele Madigan over Republican Ken Ivins. For Commissioner of Public Works: Democrat Bill McTygue over incumbent Republican “Skip” Scirocco. Republican Richard Wirth was endorsed over Democratic Commissioner of Public Safety Chris Mathiesen. Commissioner of Accounts John Franck, a Democrat running unopposed, was also endorsed.
Democrat Cynthia Young was endorsed for Malta town supervisor.
Not everyone has been open to the PAC, however. McTygue put out a statement saying he declined and did not expect the endorsement. Yepsen and Mathiesen have pledged not to accept the PAC’s financial support.
Saratoga PAC has said it would not support candidates financially.
Saratoga Springs Republican Committee Chair Steven Rodriguez said the PAC’s survey can be seen as helpful for candidates, regardless of party affiliation.
“People never really know what the citizens think as a whole. A small vocal group on whatever part of the political spectrum someone’s from can make it appear as if they’re speaking for the vast majority of citizens but no one really knows,” said Rodriguez.
However, Rodriguez said it’s up to the candidates to explain their relationship to the PAC in regard to the endorsement.
Tuesday night, a group called Saratoga County Residents Against PACS, affiliated with MoveOn.org, gathered to protest PACs nationwide and at home. Member Joe Seeman….
“It’s a way that here in Saratoga or anywhere, rich people can spend as much money as they want to influence elections, to buy elections. And that’s wrong in Saratoga and that’s wrong everywhere.”
Manz said the protesters against Saratoga PAC are misinformed.
“We are just trying to make sure issues that issues that will help Saratoga continue to move forward into the future are brought up, discussed, and have a commitment by the local officials _ --- the local politicians and local government --- that they’ll address them.”
Skidmore College professor of government Bob Turner is studying the Saratoga PAC with his students. He predicts that because the PAC is not supporting candidates financially, it will not have a large impact on the election. The city is home to many other small grass-roots organizations focused on policy that have turned out large numbers of supporters at public meetings.
Turner did predict, however, that the information gathered by the PAC would have a larger impact in the long-term.
“They now have a mailing list of residents of the city and what their preferences are, and so what they can in turn use to appeal to future candidates is to say, ‘Here is a list of potential voters, here is what they care about, and we’ll help you reach those voters,’” said Turner.
According to the New York State Board of Elections Campaign Finance Page, Saratoga PAC has raised $53,937.08.
For more information on Saratoga PAC visit: http://saratogapac.com/
