SARATOGA SPRINGS — Mayor Ron Kim and former public safety commissioner Chris Mathiesen have more than a few things in common – both are Democrats, both served on the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals and both served on the City Council as commissioner of public safety.
And over the years, the attorney and the retired dentist always supported each other’s campaigns.
Early voting
When:
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 25.
Noon to 8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday
Where: Saratoga Springs Recreation Center, 15 Vanderbilt Ave., Saratoga Springs. Polling also takes place at the County Board of Elections in Ballston Spa and Clifton Park Halfmoon Library.
Primary day: Tuesday, June 27 at all polling places
But after Mathiesen forced a Democratic primary for mayor, their differences have grown stark. The 72-year-old retiree said he decided to challenge Kim because he felt the council had “a lot of antagonism” and he didn’t always agree with Kim’s actions. That includes allowing Black Lives Matter activists disrupt meetings and moving a former city director of risk and safety out of the accounts department and into the mayor’s office.
He also disagreed that Kim, along with now-Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino, released police camera video of the Nov. 20 police-involved shooting on Broadway. He sided with Republican Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen, who didn’t want them to go public with the video and some shooting details.
“She and the police department always coordinated about what information to release at what stage,” Mathiesen said. “That was the day of the incident. The investigation was in its infancy. I know Ron thinks of that as transparent. I think of it as irresponsible. We should defer to the DA.”
The consumer rights and civil rights attorney, on the…
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