“We’re all committed to working together for the city,” Mayor John Safford said. “The No. 1 priority is for us to focus not on politics, or ideologies, but on what the needs of the city are.” Safford and Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll were the only incumbents reelected to office in November. They were sworn in alongside new Commissioner of Accounts Jessica Troisi, Public Works Commissioner Bahram Keramati and Commissioner of Finance JoAnne Kiernan during an inauguration ceremony at City Hall.
Democrats will hold a 3-2 majority on the Saratoga Springs City Council this term. Safford is the sole Republican and Kiernan is an independent. Yet, officials have seemingly forged an alliance with four of those elected running on the nonpartisan One Saratoga line committed to putting the city first, including Safford, Coll, Troisi and Kiernan. Although Keramati did not run on the One Saratoga line, he, too, embraced the cooperative spirit, saying he is looking forward to working with city officials and staff, especially the “amazing” Department of Public Works crews. I want them to know that I will value the opinion of every single employee of DPW,” Keramati said. “I will make sure that they understand that their loyalty is not to me as a person, their loyalty is to the people of Saratoga Springs to do the best that we can for the community.” From the Daily Gazette.