11:11 Tara Gaston
"Our party is not as important as working for the protection of everyone in this place," Gaston said after saying that all the lives in the city matter and black live matter. "Keep us honest and keep us accountable. Tonight is not the end fo it."
11:08 Minita Sanghvi
"Really it's not my victory, but the victory of three people behind me," Sanghvi said indicating campaign staff and her wife. She was asked by Ron Kim to run, and "On April fools day, I said, 'Yes, I'll do this,' so the joke's on me, Ron." She added later, "We could not have done this without village."
11:05 Jim Montagnino
Speechless, he said. A rarity. "The only words that I can say are thank you." He thanked his campaign. Having the majority of the city council as Democrats "You ain't seen nothing yet." Earlier in the evening, he said, reopening an investigation into the Dylan Mount death in 2013 will be looked at.
11:03 Dillon Moran
"We went and we talked to people...I'm so proud to be able to serve with these folks." Dillon Moran.
10:59 Dems claim win on four seats on City Council, one Supervisor
Saratoga won because facts matter. because truth matters because democracy matters," Ron Kim just said, claiming the win for most seats on the Saratoga Springs City Council. Kim thanked his campaign team, Joanne Yepsen, the former mayor, and Sarah Burger the former chair of the Saratoga Springs Democratic Party.
10:47 Dalton, Israel concede. Dems "cautiously optimistic"
At the Embassy Suites on Congress Avenue, the mood is upbeat as Democrats look to take four of the five council seats in Saratoga Springs.
Tracy LaBelle just conceded to Jim Montagnino who had about 10% over the GOP challenger.
Anthony "Skip" Scirocco will likely hold his seat at the Department of Public Works, and Ronald Kim--cheeers through the room as the numbers for him improved--looks to win the mayoral race, though it is still very tight. Dillon Moran has a 1.5% lead over GOP challenger Samantha Guerra for the Department of Accounts. JMinita Sanghvi, who began the race with the smallest name recognition, but had early help from long-time, and connected, Saratogian Laura Chodos, looks to win Commissioner of Finance.
Adam Israel shook Sanghvi's hand and wished her "all the best for the city."
Tara Gaston, who looks to keep her seat as a county supervisor for the city, said: "This is amazing."
9:54: Robin Dalton, running for mayor, Stronger Together line.
In the ballroom of the Inn at Saratoga, Robin Dalton, Adam Israel, who is running for Commissioner of Finance, and a few other people who favor the Stronger Together line, sat around a table and waited for results. Thus far, Democrats lead the independents and Republicans in most races, sometimes by razor thin margins. Two time candidate Dem. Dillon Moran running against newbie GOP Samantha Guerra was only 16 votes ahead, according to numbers the GOP posted in the ballroom of the Holiday Inn.
Despite what might be bad loss, Robin Dalton said, "We're excited, and we're waiting for all the precincts to come in."
Added Charley Brown, a former Democrat and one of Dalton's supporters: "Saratoga Stronger Together has already won." The group showed that they can put together a solid campaign while avoiding traditional partisan politics.
9:23: Heidi Owen West
"I've done all I can do. I'm ready," mayoral hopeful Heidi Owen West said to reporters a few minutes ago. She said she hopes to improve communications throughout city hall, reiterated support for police oversight Civilian Review Board that is working its way through the legislative process now.
On affordable housing, a topic she took some heat about during a League of Women Voters debate:
"We do have a great system in place" to handle affordable housing, she said, but more needs to be done. The city needs to look at what it means by affordable and to whom--affordable to the poor yes, but workforce housing needs to be part of the mix, too.
8:30p.m. FoothillsBusinessDaily.com Editor Steve Thurston talks about the races with Saratoga Report's Dan De Federicis.
Watch here:
Intro analysis
7:30p.m.: Skidmore Polling Voters
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