The next group of leaders in the City of Glens Falls has been chosen. WAMC’s Southern Adirondack Bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports Democrats and Republicans are pledging cooperation.
On Election Day, Glens Falls voters chose Democrat Dan Hall to lead the city for the next four years. Hall defeated two opponents, Republican Tim Guy and Green Party candidate Rich Cirino.
Hall had previously served as city councilor-at-large alongside outgoing Mayor Jack Diamond. Diamond, a term-limited Democrat, was elected to a county supervisor position. The results were confirmed after absentee ballots were counted on Tuesday.
As for what he’s planning for the Warren County city of about 14,000, Hall wants to focus on technology.
“I really want to move us in the direction of what’s called Smart Cities, to be able to use technology to help us do a better job in our communities as far as our services that we provide,” said Hall. “Also find some cost savings with clean energy.”
The main theme of Hall’s campaign was keeping the momentum going. Hall ran with other city council incumbents, both Republican and Democrat, on a unity ticket.
As second-in-command, the next councilor-at-large will be current Ward 3 Republican Jane Reid.
Hall predicted he will work well with Reid.
“I’ve known her for years and we’ve been friends for years, so I think that will be another smooth transition,” said Hall.
Reid, who also works as a real estate attorney, has served on the council for six years with Hall. She said the current council, under the leadership of the incoming and outgoing mayors, has turned the financial portrait of the city around.
“Jack Diamond and Dan and the current council have moved things in a much more fiscally sound position,” said Reid.
Reid said she shares many of the same concerns as Hall, and with the city in a more stable financial position, resources are available to make necessary improvements.
“I think that Dan’s agenda in a nutshell is to make our neighborhoods better places to be with sidewalks, with getting rid of zombie homes, with upgrading the sewer systems, those kinds of functions which are exciting to finally be able to offer to Glens Falls. “
Democrat Diana Palmer was elected to the Ward 3 seat being vacated by Reid. Incumbents James Campinell and Bill Collins, both Democrats, and Republicans James Clark and Scott Endieveri held onto their seats, spelling success for the unity ticket.
Including Hall as mayor and Reid as councilor-at-large, Democrats will hold a 4-3 majority in city government.
Hall says the group will “get the job done.”
“Everybody has their own initiatives. We work together. There’s very little bickering or fighting. You know, we question each other, but we seem to come to consensus. So it’s a good working group,” said Hall.
