Keehn & Dean In Saratoga Springs
Keehn & Dean In Saratoga


There were Deaniacs, Keehniacs and Democrats galore in Saratoga Springs last night, Tuesday August 14th, when DFA Chair Jim Dean came to town for a fundraiser to reelect Saratoga Springs Mayor Valerie Keehn.

Smaller communities like Saratoga Springs don’t often see political heavyweights like Jim Dean coming in to promote local candidates. It was a double treat for local activists to come out and show their support for Keehn, one of Upstate New York’s leading progressive politicians.

Over two years ago, Keehn, a citizen activist, became concerned about that way overdevelopment, cronyism and rising housings costs and taxes were changing the character of a classic small town that is an historic American icon-- the county’s summer thoroughbred racing capital and architectural gem. She turned candidate and attended a DFA Training Academy weekend in Cazenovia, NY in July 2005. The result was a historic upset.

DFA members from at least three different regional groups attended and got some one-on-one time with Chairman Dean. In mid-afternoon, Jim also took the time to go to nearby Glens Falls, NY, another small community with an very active DFA group, for a meeting with the editorial board of the Glens Falls Post Star. There he was joined by DFA National staffers Julia Marden and Ilya Sheyman who made the three hour drive down from Burlington.

A special guest was Essex County Democratic Chairwoman Sue Corey, who also came down from the Adirondacks to support Mayor Keehn.

At the event at the historic Inn At Saratoga, Jim talked at length about how community based grassroots politics-- campaigns like Val Keehn’s-- are taking back the Democratic Party and our country. Mayor Keehn got the crowd on their feet and cheering as she talked at length about the problems facing Saratoga and how her new administration was starting to turn the community around.

We want to thank Jim for making the effort to come to Saratoga Springs, the Israel family for their generous support, all our local DFA groups, Democracy For Saratoga Springs, Democracy For The Hudson Mohawk Region, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area/Tricounty DFA and Julia and Ilya for coming down.
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 10:01 AM