Yes, the thoroughbreds begin their six-week season at Saratoga Race Course on Wednesday (July 29), but the other races already vying for attention are the ones up in the November local elections.
One city council member has declared his candidacy for mayor against the incumbent, the Saratoga County sheriff has a challenger, and more contested races are likely. In Saratoga Springs, citizens should be looking for candidates who, among other things, are willing to proceed with changing the form of government.
Former Mayor Val Keehn's unsuccessful charter vote failed in part because she proposed a radical rehab of the city after taking office instead of making it a campaign platform. I also think her goal to rid the council of then-DPW commissioner Tom McTygue became a distraction from the bigger plan to make city government more efficient.
Anyway, now's the time to start anew. So let's hear what the candidates have to say about charter change.