Defending the mayor

Editor,

First I want to all the people who were involved in the effort to keep the river out of Saratoga: the military, the volunteers, the town staff, and the local businesses and employees who supported those who were doing the work of filling and placing sandbags. Thanks to Mayor Zieger for making it all work smoothly. It is my understanding that some people think it is up to you to get the river work done and that you have the money to do that. Please write a letter to the Sun explaining what all is needed to make that project a reality. I think people are being misled that the flooding could be avoided if you made that happen. And next they will also want you to walk on water. Please let me know when you plan to do the latter so I can be present.

Second, I tried to read the letter from Leon, but it was so disrupted with poor sentence structure, misspellings, and false statements that I kept getting lost in the process. Suffice it to say that the ramblings of my old friend didn’t seem to suggest much of anything worth my time. But I did realize that he is upset because of the lawsuits that the town is involved in. Thought it was hilarious that the person he wants you to defer to is one of the people suing the town and the reason for one of those infamous lawsuits. She is also running for mayor! Now that makes real sense, Leon. Whose side are you on? As a former judge and attorney, I am amazed that you would find fault with attorney fees as I’m sure you charged plenty in your day and those fees are providing you with a great retirement in wild, wonderful Saratoga and sunny Florida.

Third, I don’t think that people actually realize what it takes to be a mayor or council member of a municipality like Saratoga. The laws and statutes change regularly as does the amount of funding that comes from various sources. These elected officials spend many hours in meetings other than council meetings, and in workshops and seminars learning not only about changes, but about possible sources of grant funding. And these hours are on their own time without pay or compensation other than gas and an occasional meal. Qualifications for these positions require more than just getting the most votes. They require intelligence and capabilities to do the job they are elected to. They require compassion for all the citizens of the town and not just an elite few. It is a thankless job and lately has been one of stress and accusations that are unfounded and unnecessary in a civilized society. We are a small community, and the upcoming election can make or break the projects that are needed to be completed for the betterment of the town. While I live outside the city limits and cannot vote in town elections, I have friends who do live in town and they will all be impacted by the outcome of those upcoming elections. Please don’t make them into a mud slinging, ugly experience for Saratoga and create wounds and separations that may never heal. Our valley deserves better.

Sincerely,

Judy Loudin

Editor’s note: In the spirit of fairness, we do no

 

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