As I look back on the past 16 years in Saratoga Springs, I’m amazed at how much our community has grown and changed. When I first ran for city council in 2010, we were a young city facing financial challenges in the wake of the 2008 real estate crash. Although we’re still a relatively young community today, we’ve made tremendous progress.

From the beginning, one of our main goals on the city council was to ensure Saratoga Springs had a strong financial foundation — one that could sustain a well-run city and provide the services our residents expect and deserve. Part of that effort included developing a thriving business district to serve our residents and strengthen our local economy.

Those efforts have paid off, allowing us to pursue quality-of-life projects such as Patriot Park and our new library, which will open in January 2026.

The Saratoga Springs Library began as a volunteer-driven effort and has since grown into a valued community resource. Currently, it occupies half of the lower level of City Hall and provides more than 29,000 items for residents’ use. The new library building will be four times larger, featuring an expanded collection of 80,000 additional materials, reservable study rooms and a dedicated programming space.

Of course, none of these accomplishments would be possible without the dedicated staff who keep our city running smoothly. As mayor and as part of the city council, we’ve worked hard to provide competitive wages and benefits to attract and retain skilled, committed employees. Many of our staff members live right here in Saratoga Springs and take pride in serving their neighbors and community. Their professionalism and care are reflected in everything they do.

Our administration has also embraced a data-driven approach to decision-making, using technology and innovation to address challenges and plan for sustainable growth. This commitment to smart, forward-thinking leadership has helped position Saratoga Springs for continued success.

Saratoga Springs is a special place, and I am deeply proud to call it home. It has been an honor to serve this community as both a city council member and as your mayor. I have great confidence in our incoming mayor, Chris Carn, with whom I’ve had the privilege of serving for six years. I know the city is in good hands, and I look forward to watching Saratoga Springs continue to grow and thrive under new leadership.

After all, as we like to say in Saratoga Springs, “Life’s just better here.”