SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee has elected local attorney Sarah J. Burger as chairwoman following the resignation of Courtney DeLeonardis, the result of a fracture within the committee.
DeLeonardis, other executive committee members and 11 other committee members resigned in the wake of city Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan’s loss to Patricia Morrison in a June Democratic primary. The committee had supported Madigan prior to the primary. After Morrison won the primary, the committee backed Morrison as the party’s candidate in the fall general election.
Madigan is now running for re-election on the Independence and Working Families’ ballot lines, and some of those who left the Democratic Committee have done so intending to help with her campaign, but feeling they couldn’t while serving on the Democratic Committee. The Republicans are not fielding a candidate for finance commissioner, so the race is again between Madigan and Morrison.
A native of Saratoga Springs, Burger is founding partner at Burger Law Group and has been a longtime committee member. She was elected at a meeting Wednesday night.
“It is an honor to have been elected to serve as the next chair of the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee,” she said. “While I was surprised by the abrupt recent resignations, I am encouraged by the outpouring of people that are eager and committed to serving. We are excited to work together on Democratic issues and elect our candidates this November and beyond.”
The committee also elected Cassandra Bagramian as its new treasurer. She is the Democratic deputy commissioner for the Saratoga County Board of Elections.
“Each brings strong professional, political and community service to their positions and I have the utmost confidence that under this new leadership our city Democratic Committee will be stronger going forward,” Morrison said in a statement provided by the committee. “I’m excited to advance our 2019 campaigns in a positive and inclusive direction.”
The committee is supporting Mayor Meg Kelly and Accounts Commissioner John Franck for re-election, and Dillon Moran for public works commissioner against incumbent Republican Anthony “Skip” Scirocco.
Categories: -News-, Saratoga County
