Lenz sold out the city on the water issue. Why? Because the Republican party machine bosses told him to. Why? Because the county water plan, running a pipeline network from the Hudson River, would allow suburban hyper-development to happen in rural towns outside the city where it is currently constrained. Note: Tom Roohan, Republican city chair, runs the foremost real estate agency in the city, and owns many pieces of rural property outside the city. At the bidding of Roohan, Lenz surrendered the city's control over its own destiny. In effect, the city will be asked to subsidize suburban development in the surrounding towns, and city residents would have to pay whatever the county decides to charge for water. To make matters worse, Lenz got a council majority to toss out a half-million dollars worth of engineering consulting work done on behalf of the Public Works Department's own water plan - which was a sensible plan to draw water from nearby Saratoga Lake, part of which lies within city boundaries. To defeat the city's own plan, Lenz enlisted a claque of lakeside property owners from outside the city, and inflamed them with misinformation about the DPW project. All this was done for the sake of a mythical computer "chip plant" which, if it existed, the Republican machine would like to stick in Malta - along with thousands of new suburban McHouses. Next on the Republican council majority is Steve Towne, Commissioner of Accounts, whose latest misdeed among many was a peremptory reassessment of city property, with an eight percent across-the-board boost of assessed value for existing buildings and weasely exemptions for favored clients with new (previously unassessed) houses.

Steve Towne's day job is comptroller for the Roohan Real Estate company, and it happens that higher benchmark valuations lead to higher commissions for real estate sales. Connect the dots. Steve Towne also happens to be Republican party chair Tom Roohan's cousin. Connect some more dots.

?(Rathman) criticized Halfmoon Republican Committee Chairwoman Regina Parker for saying that the Republican committee will select DeCerce's replacement. "It's arrogant of the town Republicans to think they have the power to plop in this replacement," Rathman said. "It's supposed to be the Town Board that fills that position. I think it speaks to the one-party rule going in Halfmoon right now.?

It's a sad day when the Republican party, my party, would stoop to the levels that they have just to maintain control of a town judgeship. And, if these actions are representative of your tactics in general, I'd be frightened at what lies just beneath the covers of the party, just to maintain control of Saratoga County? Shame on you, and I'm truly sorry for Saratoga County, a beautiful place that deserves so much more. Editor's Note: Mr. Rohling is referring to the sudden resignation of Ballston town justice Ken Kissinger just weeks before the general election, allegedly because his employment has resulted in a transfer from the area. His resignation is effective Dec. 26. His term ends Dec. 31 and his name will appear on the ballot Tuesday, Nov. 8. Former Republican town justice Cynthia Amrhein has announced her intent to seek the position as a write-in candidate but if Kissinger receives the most votes, the town board will appoint an individual to fill the position.