List of mayors of Saratoga Springs, New York facts for kids

Saratoga Springs, New York, is a vibrant city with a rich history. Like many cities, it has a leader called a mayor. The mayor is like the city's chief executive officer, helping to manage its daily operations and guide its future. Saratoga Springs officially became a city in 1915. Since then, many dedicated people have served as its mayor, helping to shape the community we know today. Mayors in Saratoga Springs are sworn into office on the first day of even-numbered years.

Meet the Mayors of Saratoga Springs

This section introduces you to the people who have served as mayor of Saratoga Springs since it became a city. Each mayor played a part in the city's story.

Early Mayors: Building the City (1916-1935)

The first mayor of Saratoga Springs was Walter P. Butler. He took office in 1916, right after the city was officially formed. He helped set up the new city government.

• Walter P. Butler (1916)
• Harry E. Pettee (1918-1919)
• James D. McNulty (1920-1923)
• Clarence H. Knapp (1924-1927) was a Democrat and served one term.
• William D. Eddy (1928-1931) was also a Democrat and served two terms.
• Henry J. Schrade Jr. (1932-1935) was a Republican. His family was known for their florist business in the city.

Long-Serving Leaders (1936-1979)

Some mayors served for many years, guiding Saratoga Springs through different times.

• Addison Mallery (1936-1959) served for a very long time, eight terms in total. He was a non-partisan mayor, meaning he didn't officially belong to a political party during his time in office.
• James E. Benton (1960-1963) also served as a non-partisan mayor.
• Arthur J. Kearney (1964-1965)
• James A. Murphy, Jr. (1966-1969) served two terms as a non-partisan mayor. He was an attorney and came from a family with a history of public service.
• Sarto J. Smaldone (1970-1973) was known for owning the Malta Drive-In.
• Raymond Watkin (1974-1979) was a Democrat who served three terms. There are apartments in Saratoga Springs named after him.

Modern Era Mayors (1980-Present)

In more recent times, mayors have continued to lead Saratoga Springs into the 21st century.

• Ellsworth J. Jones (1980-1989) was a Republican who served five terms. He was born in Corinth, New York, and passed away in 2006.
• Almeda C. Dake (1990-1995) was a Republican. Her family founded Stewart's Shops, a popular chain of convenience stores headquartered in Saratoga Springs.
• J. Michael O'Connell (1996-1999) was a Republican who served two terms.
• Kenneth Klotz (2000-2003) was a Democrat and served two terms.
• Michael A. Lenz (2004-2005) was a Republican who served one term.
• Valerie Keehn (2006-2007) was a Democrat and served one term.
• Scott T. Johnson (2008-2013) was a Republican who served three terms.
• Joanne Yepsen (2014-2017) was a Democrat.
• Meg Kelly (2018-2021) was a Democrat.
• Ronald J. Kim (2022-2023) was a Democrat.
• John Safford (2024-present) is the current mayor of Saratoga Springs. He is a Republican and was sworn into office on January 1, 2024.