"Thanks from all of us for stepping up to the plate to take on and make the tough decisions and help lead this community into the 21st century and probably maybe even a little bit of the region too, which could use a little bit of help. Thank you so much Val for doing this."

- Jim Dean at last Wednesday's campaign rally

The race for mayor this year in Saratoga Springs is expected to be very competitive and quite costly. As of July 17, 2007, incumbent Valerie Keehn had raised $9,703.81 with a closing balance of $4,967.03, while her Democratic primary opponent Gordon Boyd raised $25,637.43 with $8,658.15 still in the bank. $cott Johnson (R), a wealthy tort lawyer, is expected to self-finance his own campaign.

The GOP continues to enjoy a modest 4 to 3 enrollment advantage in the Spa City (41% Republican to 30% Democratic), but many non-affiliated voters have come to favor the Democrats in recent election cycles; John Kerry took 57% in Saratoga Springs in the 2004 elections, while Kirsten Gillibrand took 60%, and Eliot Spitzer took 68% last year.