Saratoga Springs Republicans have publicly put forward Anthony Scirocco Jr., the son Anthony “Skip” Scirocco, as their choice to replace his father at the helm of the Department of Public Works.
The elder Scirocco died last week, and his funeral was held on Tuesday.
“We can’t think of a more qualified, motivated, knowledgeable leader of that department than Anthony. He is respected among the employees in Public Works. He’s been in the trenches,” wrote Michael Brandi to the Saratoga Springs City Council. He shared the letter with the media. Brandi is the Chairman of the Saratoga Springs Republican Party.
The younger Scirocco works in the Saratoga County Department of Public Works, according to the press statement.
Since Skip Scirocco died in office, the Saratoga Springs City Council, under the city’s charter, can replace him for this year. An election this fall will determine who fills the position for the rest of the term which ends Dec. 31, 2023.
Mayor Ron Kim says that he has four names, thus far, of people who are seeking the position. Scirocco, Jason Golub, William “Bill” McTygue, and Robert Bullock.
Kim said the council will discuss the process either at this Monday's workshop that the council holds the before their Tuesday meeting, or they will discuss it at meeting itself, April 19.
He said the aim is transparency.
“We’ll interview them in public,” he said of the nominees. “Part of this is we want to be transparent.”
Normally a commissioner is elected into the position, Kim said, replacing them “shouldn’t be a backroom deal.”
The mayor and the three commissioners are Democrats.
Of the younger Scirocco, Brandi writes: “In 2015, Anthony took on the duties of Maintenance Supervisor, directing a team of 20 county employees and handling the administrative aspects that come with running a municipal highway garage. Anthony regularly coordinates with other government entities and contractors in furthering the county’s business and is a main point of contact for law enforcement when they encounter issues on county roads.”
However, the position is not just one of the department. Commissioners in Saratoga Springs run their departments but also act as at-large politicians. They vote on laws and make city policy beyond the department that they run.
During an interview after the announcement, Brandi admitted that all the commissioner positions are odd in that way, but the committee chose a candidate with DPW experience.
“This isn’t a political recommendation,” Brandi said, “This is a good fit for the job.”
The other candidate who has come forward publicly so far is Jason Golub, a lawyer who has little public works experience but experience in executive roles in corporations and organizations.
He also has chaired, or been a member on, various committees in the city.
Brandi said that the Republicans did not consider race or other political issues as much in their discussion. Golub is African-American, and if selected he would be the first Black person to serve on the city council in that board’s 107 year history. Scirocco is White.
“We looked at the connection with the community and the understanding of what’s going on in a person’s day-to-day life,” when selecting their candidate, Brandi said, adding that DPW picks up leaves and takes care of the city’s water, and that is what they focused on when they chose the younger Scirocco.
Shaun Wiggins, who nominated Golub for the role, said that the city needs to consider a person’s race along with talents and ability when looking for the next commissioner.
Given the protests led by Saratoga Black Lives Matter and the accusations of police misconduct, Wiggins said: "We need someone who understands the challenges the black people have.”
The GOP's Brandi says that Skip Scirocco's legacy was one of fairness and bipartisanship. Of the younger Scirocco, he added: “He’s ready to take up that mantel.”