Todd Kerner, who served as the long-standing chairman of the Saratoga County Democratic Committee, abruptly resigned from his position this week due to internal disputes within the committee's leadership. Having been a dedicated member since 1991, he had led the committee as chairman for nearly 11 years.
In a recent social media post, Todd explained his resignation, stating,
"I resigned from the Saratoga County Democratic Committee today as they refused to make a statement."
The statement Todd referred to concerned the condemnation of a Hamas terrorist attack in Israel and a pro-Hamas rally promoted by the Democratic Socialists of America, a far-left political organization that leverages the Democratic party to advance socialist legislation and candidates. It's worth noting that both of these events faced criticism from Democratic Party leaders across New York State.
Todd expressed his disappointment by saying, "Instead, they are mad at me for calling out the DSA rally; oh well, if you refuse to take a position, you are part of the problem. I remain a Democrat but not a Saratoga County Democrat anymore."
To gain further insight into Todd's abrupt resignation and the party's stance, Moving Saratoga Forward reached out to Martha Devaney, the current Chairwoman of the Saratoga County Democratic Party. Unfortunately, Chairwoman Devaney did not respond to our request for comment.
A review of the Saratoga County Democratic Party's website and social media platforms revealed that while the county party did not explicitly condemn Hamas nor the controversial DSA rally, they did share two statements from Democratic Party State Chair Jay Jacobs, both of which rightfully criticized these events. However, it remains uncertain whether Mr. Jacobs' opinion reflects the county party's official stance on the matter.
Todd Kerner's departure from the local Democratic Party coincides with a period of heightened turmoil between the moderate and socialist/progressive factions within the party. The Saratoga Springs Public Safety race provides a notable example of this divide. In this race, incumbent moderate James Montagnino faces a challenge from the far-left candidate Kristen Dart.
Dart entered the race late, motivated by her dissatisfaction with Montagnino's handling of the BLM activists, Chandler Hickenbottom and Lexis Figuereo. These activists disrupted a government proceeding by refusing to yield the microphone during the public comment period, resulting in the chaos and an abrupt end to multiple city council meetings. Montagnino suggested that Hickenbottom and Figuereo had broken the law, leading to charges of disorderly conduct, a violation.
A similar dynamic is unfolding in the Mayoral race, where incumbent Ron Kim, a member of the party's far-left wing, faces a challenge from Chris Mathiesen, a former Public Safety Commissioner and a more moderate voice. Mathiesen is critical of Kim's leadership style, citing alleged hostile treatment of city employees, occasional outbursts, and difficulty conducting city business civilly during meetings.
The upcoming election holds significant importance for Saratoga Democrats, as internal discord threatens to cost them two seats on the city council. Tim Coll, a Republican-backed candidate with a wealth of policing experience, is running for the office of Public Safety Commissioner, setting himself apart from the two Democratic contenders, Montagnino and Dart. Coll has garnered the endorsement of ONE Saratoga, a group of moderate Democrats who have distanced themselves from the Saratoga Springs Democratic Party due to concerns about its leftward shift.
John Safford, a longtime resident and veteran, is the Republican candidate for Mayor. He, too, may benefit from Democratic party infighting. Safford is well-known in the community, active in veterans' issues and the Saratoga Elks club.
Moving Saratoga Forward reached out to Saratoga Springs Republican Committee Chairman, Michael Brandi, to comment on the political discord in Democratic circles and how Republicans can distinguish themselves in this election cycle. Brandi emphasized that Saratoga Springs Republicans, along with many Democratic and unaffiliated voters, support their candidates and the platform of safety, civility, transparency, and responsible use of taxpayer funds.
Brandi attributed the disunity in the Democratic party to the influence of extreme elements in the party's leadership, citing concerns about the DSA's antisemitism and BLM's disruptive behavior.
He encouraged voters to consider the dysfunction in city government over the past two years and the need for change. Electing John Safford for Mayor and Tim Coll for Commissioner of Public Safety, according to Brandi, would bring responsible leadership back to the City Council.
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