Leadership & Standing Committees

Ron Kim, Chair

Bio forthcoming.

Jenny Clifton, First Vice Chair

Jenny Clifton originally hails from Washington State but has called New York home for the past 17 years. She lives in downtown Saratoga Springs with her husband, Nick, their two children, Dylan and Ava, and two rescue pitbulls. Jenny earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and her Master’s degree through Teach for America, including a public policy study at the University of Oxford. She has worked in human resources, low income education, and real estate development. Jenny is committed to advocating for marginalized communities, the environment, animal welfare, and women’s rights. In 2026, she was elected to serve as a state Democratic Party representative.

Pat Tuz, Second Vice Chair

Formerly an executive at Hearst Magazines, Pat moved with her husband Jon and two school aged children, Sasha and Shea, to Wilton in 2006. After an unsuccessful run for Town Board in which her main focus was accessible bicycle paths, Pat stayed involved with the Wilton Democratic Committee, reinvigorating it in 2016 with a new logo and Facebook page, and worked to find candidates to run for local office. In 2019, Pat and Jon moved to Saratoga Springs where Pat became involved with the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee and served as Chair from 2021 to 2023. Pat lives in District 23 but is a District Leader for District 13. She is an addicted rower with a passion for the lake and also serves on the board of the Saratoga Lake Association.

Karen Bellhouse, Third Vice Chair

A private practice OBGYN for 30 years, Karen Bellhouse first found her passion for women’s health and advocacy while a student, organizing for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment and commiserating with friends over their less than stellar experiences in gynecologists’ offices. After completing her undergraduate studies at Union College and medical school at Stonybrook University, Karen moved from Schenectady to Saratoga Springs in 1991 to complete her residency in Albany and raise her family. Frustrated by the state of national politics in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Karen’s husband wisely advised her to get involved in her community and, as Karen puts it, “make some change, and move things in a direction that would keep me from just yelling at the TV all the time.” When she’s not busy bringing a balanced and thoughtful perspective to SSDC meetings, she and her husband are devoted sailors and hikers, and enjoy everything this amazing area has to offer.

Jim Thompson, Treasurer

Jim Thompson has long had an interest in politics and government, having worked for a member of Congress, managed and volunteered for numerous campaigns up- and down-ballot (including managing the 1987 campaign of Tom Frey for Monroe County, the first Democrat elected Executive in county history!) and working across all levels of government. After working in city and county government in Rochester and Monroe County for 15 years, including as Assistant to the County Executive, Jim received his Ph.D. from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and went on to serve as a professor in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Illinois – Chicago for 25 years. After retiring from UIC in 2021, he and his wife Pam moved to Saratoga Springs, where he has continued to be involved as a volunteer on multiple local campaigns.

Michele Hill-Davis, Secretary

Michele Hill-Davis worked as a national crime victim’s advocate for over a decade, traveling throughout New York and the U.S. to advance state and federal legislation. She is currently employed as an Executive Assistant within the City of Saratoga Springs’ Department of Public Works and previously worked for the Saratoga County Board of Elections. Michele also has experience as a candidate for local office and organizing nationally as a field director and trainer for Vote Blue and Supermajority, but now enjoys focusing her energy on getting good, quality candidates elected right here at home. She has three Master’s degrees and a certificate in politics from Yale Law.

Emma Corey, At-Large Member

Emma Corey developed an early respect for local public service and politics as a high schooler, helping her mom successfully campaign for Town Supervisor in their hometown of Minerva, NY. As a Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor in the New York State Senate for the past five years, Emma has advanced hundreds of pieces of legislation through the state’s upper chamber. She ran communications for two State Senate races in Orange County, NY–one of the most Republican-leaning districts currently held by a Democrat in the state–helping her candidate overperform the top of the ticket by 14 points in 2022 and nearly 25 points in 2024. Emma previously worked for over a decade in communications for cultural non-profits in the Hudson Valley, and completed her undergraduate studies at SUNY New Paltz. She moved to Saratoga Springs in 2024 where she and her husband are expecting their first child this fall.