Image credit to Ron Kim for Mayor.
Capital Region native Ron Kim is the only Democratic candidate in next week’s mayoral election. Born in Schenectady and raised in Glens Falls, Kim is a graduate of Colgate University, where he studied Political Science. He has also received a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and a law degree. After spending eight years on the Saratoga Springs Zoning Board of Appeals and two terms as Commissioner of Public Safety, Kim is now dedicated to improving Saratoga’s infrastructure, reinvigorating democracy and restoring trust in the government. This week, The Skidmore News sat down with Ron Kim to discuss his platform, goals for Saratoga Springs, and how he envisions Skidmore students as actors in this work.
What motivates you to run for the position of Saratoga mayor? What do you think qualifies you to step into this city role?
At the onset of our conversation, Kim acknowledged that “as ugly as politics can be, it’s the way we make decisions as a body politic and people should be involved.” This is the crux of his run for mayor. Democracy, both in Saratoga and nationwide, is being “deeply challenged.” The remedy for this, to Kim, is activity in local politics, as it is “our closest democracy.” Kim’s long-term aim is to create a City Council that “can talk to each other [about facts and truth], [which] will get trust, and through trust [we] will preserve our democracy.”
Kim emphasized that he is the mayoral candidate with the most government experience. As noted previously, Kim has spent over a decade in various government positions. He mentions that a common critique of his candidacy is of his background as a “small business person.” He responds, “government is fundamentally different from business… you have to take into account other people’s wants, desires, [and] needs.” This government experience, as well as his education in public policy, is what Kim believes “sets him apart” from the other two candidates in the race.
Can you give a general description of your platform for students who may not be familiar with city politics? Which of your intended policies do you believe will be of most interest to Skidmore students?
Kim outlined his platform through three main “flanks.” First, Kim is keenly intent on preserving the Saratoga Greenbelt and moving the city towards carbon neutrality by 2030. He also identified a “corollary” to the climate initiatives, which is the implementation of “complete streets” across the city: “we need to make sure that Saratoga Springs is bike [and] pedestrian friendly and deemphasizes cars.” Implementing complete streets is not just a climate issue, but an economic and accessibility one as well, and a move that many cities in surrounding states are “aggressively” heading towards. Complete streets is part of a lifestyle that “people look for,” and that can increase our “competitiveness as a community.”
The second aspect of Kim’s platform is the “integrity and transparency” of the Saratoga Springs Police Department (SSPD). Kim stressed that he wants to “do the right thing on police reform,” which includes instituting a Civilian Review Board and investigating the death of Darryl Mount in 2014. On the latter, he said: “People have asked me, well, what do you think happened? And I don’t know, but that’s the problem.”
He sees police reform as part of a larger project of restoring faith in democracy. Kim views “some of [Saratoga’s] dialogue” as reflecting national attacks on democracy, for example the January 6 events in Washington, D.C. and school board arguments over Critical Race Theory.
From his own projects and conversations with Skidmore students, Kim believes that his complete streets and carbon neutrality initiatives are familiar and attractive to students. Saratoga Springs should be a place where bikes, scooters, wheelchairs, and pedestrians can all coexist. “There’s a whole host of ways that people can get around a city that will allow less carbon emissions,” he highlighted, “but also [are] just as convenient as what we do now.” Kim would also add the lack of sidewalks in Saratoga’s neighborhoods, especially the newer ones, as issues pertinent to the Skidmore community.
One of the issues that we believe Skidmore students care most about is the city's treatment and policies concerning Saratoga Black Lives Matter (BLM) activists. How would you work to repair the relationship between the SSPD, Saratoga City Council, and BLM activists?
“It starts with telling the truth and dealing in facts,” Kim started. He said, “As a minority candidate myself, I think just being elected will be helpful to repair some of this.” If elected, Kim would be the first Asian-American city mayor in New York state. “Breaking those barriers,” Kim believes, helps show people that “the city is open to all folks in terms of being a part of the power structure.”
"On the topic of the relationship between local activists and the city, Kim feels, “[the activists] want to be heard [and] to be aware of the decision making.” He promises that if he is elected, “they’ll have a place at the table.” The biggest tension right now, for Kim, is in leadership. He recognizes that “society is drenched in racism,” but he thinks that the case in Saratoga is not “inherently worse than what we’ve had to recognize in our society as a whole.” His goal is to “[get] those relationships to the point where they can talk on an equal plate [and] be respectful to each other.”
What do you visualize as the ideal change for Saratoga political culture? And what issues would you prioritize for the community moving forward?
Kim sees “miscommunication” from SSPD and city leadership as a barrier to renewed democracy, and he ensures that “those kinds of things [will] stop because it’s just not the way we’re going to build trust or… talk about things.”
“As far as political culture,” he emphasized: “we’ve got to do the business of governing the city and leading it. And we have to do that by talking to people and hearing them and trying to build consensus.” Kim recognizes that it can be a naive view, but he stresses that he will create a political culture where “people are heard, decisions are made, and they’re the best we can do for the greatest majority of people.”
Prioritizing Saratoga’s infrastructure needs is the most important issue for Kim, including complete streets, carbon neutrality, and fixing the city’s water issues. “We do have to act fast,” he said, which requires getting citizens’ input, and working directly with local groups to address their immediate needs. “We want to know what you think,” he invites. “That’s how you change political culture.”
Kim encourages Skidmore students registered in Saratoga to get out the vote this upcoming Tuesday, November 2nd. He believes the Row A candidates, the line of Democratic nominees, “all represent a sort of vision of Saratoga Springs that [he thinks] is inclusive and will protect our democracy. And I think we should all be invested in that.”
Skidmore News Editor Shayna Cohen ‘23 chats with Ron Kim ahead of the November 2 election.
Campus Polling Information sent out by Skidmore College:
The campus polling site in The Center, located on the second floor of Case Center across from the Campus Life and Engagement offices, will be open for voting on Tuesday, Nov. 2, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where to vote:
If you are a student living on campus, the campus polling site will be your polling place.
If you are living locally in an off-campus house or apartment, check your polling place here.
If you are living outside New York state, find your polling place here.
Read Skidmore News’ Interview with Republican Mayoral Candidate Heidi Owen West.
Read Skidmore News’ Interview with Independent Mayoral Candidate Robin Dalton.