List of mayors of Saratoga Springs, New York facts for kids
Saratoga Springs, New York, is a city with a rich history. Like many cities, it has a leader called a mayor. A mayor is the head of the city government. They help make important decisions for the city and its people. Saratoga Springs officially became a city in 1915. Since then, many mayors have helped shape the city. Mayors are usually sworn into office on the first day of even-numbered years.
Meet the Mayors of Saratoga Springs
What Does a Mayor Do?
A mayor is like the chief executive of a city. They work with other city officials to manage things like public safety, parks, and city services. Mayors help make sure the city runs smoothly and that the community's needs are met. They often represent the city at events and work to improve life for everyone living there.
A Look at Saratoga Springs' Leaders
Here is a list of the people who have served as mayor of Saratoga Springs since it became a city. You can see when they started and ended their terms, and sometimes, which political party they belonged to.
| Name | Start | End | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walter P. Butler | 1916 | Walter P. Butler was the very first Mayor of Saratoga Springs. | ||
| Harry E. Pettee | 1918 | 1919 | non-partisan | Pettee was also the president of General Carbonic Gas Company. |
| James D. McNulty | 1920 | 1923 | non-partisan | |
| Clarence H. Knapp | 1924 | 1927 | Democratic | He served one term as mayor. |
| William D. Eddy | 1928 | 1931 | Democratic | He served two terms. |
| Henry J. Schrade Jr. | 1932 | 1935 | Republican | His family owned a florist business. |
| Addison Mallery | 1936 | 1959 | non-partisan | He served for eight terms, which is a long time! |
| James E. Benton | 1960 | 1963 | non-partisan | |
| Arthur J. Kearney | 1964 | 1965 | ? | |
| James A. Murphy, Jr. | 1966 | 1969 | non-partisan | He served two terms and was an attorney. He was also related to U.S. Congressman Carleton J. King. |
| Sarto J. Smaldone | 1970 | 1973 | ? | He owned the Malta Drive-In movie theater. |
| Raymond Watkin | 1974 | 1979 | Democratic | He served three terms. The Raymond Watkin Apartments are named after him. |
| Ellsworth J. Jones | 1980 | 1989 | Republican | He served for five terms. He was born in Corinth, New York. |
| Almeda C. Dake | 1990 | 1995 | Republican | Her family founded Stewart's Shops, a well-known business headquartered in Saratoga Springs. |
| J. Michael O'Connell | 1996 | 1999 | Republican | He served two terms. |
| Kenneth Klotz | 2000 | 2003 | Democratic | He served two terms. |
| Michael A. Lenz | 2004 | 2005 | Republican | He served one term. |
| Valerie Keehn | 2006 | 2007 | Democratic | She served one term. |
| Scott T. Johnson | 2008 | 2013 | Republican | He served three terms. |
| Joanne Yepsen | 2014 | 2017 | Democratic | |
| Meg Kelly | 2018 | 2021 | Democratic | |
| Ronald J. Kim | 2022 | 2023 | Democratic | |
| John Safford | 2024 | Republican | John Safford is the current mayor of Saratoga Springs. He was sworn into office on January 1, 2024. | |
