Ballston Republican Committee

Letter to Editor by Patrick S. Ziegler

On Tuesday, January 5, the Ballston Town Council held their first meeting of 2010.  Sadly, Supervisor Patti Southworth and the newly elected Jeremy Knight made clear that they will continue a years-long tradition of undermining fellow Councilmembers for political gain with shameful disregard for the best interests of the Town.  It has become painfully obvious that Supervisor Southworth and her minions prefer not to resolve Ballston’s water issue but rather, to use the dilemma we now face to their political advantage for as long as possible.  Granted, there was an unfortunate oversight which resulted in two water deals, committing our Town to the daily purchase of more water than we could use in the foreseeable future.  A former Town Attorney lost his job as a result and a former Republican Councilman lost a bid for the Supervisor’s seat with the water deal for which he voted hanging over his head.  But it is now three years since the ink dried and the Democrat/Independent Patti Southworth (who has made a political living criticizing the arrangement) has proven utterly incapable of securing a resolution.  Or perhaps we should be asking if Southworth’s apparent incompetence is actually a matter of will. 

By refusing to pursue solutions to Ballston’s water problem, the Southworths have been able to focus their energy on attacking their Republican counterparts, most notably Mary Beth Hynes.  To her credit, Councilwoman Hynes succeeded where Southworth has failed by reaching an agreement with the Saratoga County Water Authority which reduces Ballston’s daily water purchase requirement.  For her efforts, Mary Beth was blindsided by a cowardly setup undoubtedly orchestrated by the Southworths, questioning her ability to vote on the proposed agreement as she also sits on the Water Authority Board.  Supposing Patti had proven able to work with fellow Saratoga County Supervisors to reach a water-sharing agreement, would Republicans have been expected to welcome an arrangement which would save the Town hundreds of thousands of dollars?  Or would Mary Beth have requested a ruling on an inflated conflict of interest charge?  The good people of Ballston should be ashamed of Patti’s and Jeremy’s behavior.  Their pettiness and grandstanding is not due to an honest misreading of a water contract but a reprehensible commitment to the politics of personal destruction.  Town Democrats and Independents have proven, yet again, that their only goal is holding onto power and destroying their political opponents.  It is imperative that we all begin attending Town meetings in force and demanding that Patti Southworth and Jeremy Knight support a water deal that is in the best interest of the Town of Ballston.