SARANAC LAKE - Village Democrats endorsed Barbara Rice and Paul Van Cott for a pair of seats on the village board, and Ken McLaughlin for village justice, at the party's caucus Monday night.
Rice, a co-owner of Rice Furniture, and Van Cott, an associate attorney for the state Adirondack Park Agency, were picked unanimously by the roughly 25 registered Democrats who showed up for the caucus in the Harrietstown Town Hall board room. There were no other nominations for the two trustee seats, which carry four-year terms and are currently held by Republicans Jeff Branch and John McEneany.
Rice wasn't able to attend the caucus, but she submitted a brief prepared statement that was read aloud after the nominations were approved.
"I'm extremely excited and enthusiastic about running for village board," Rice wrote. "As a downtown business owner and native Saranac Laker, I will offer a fresh and relevant perspective to the board."
Van Cott said his 25 years of experience as a lawyer and manager in state government would be an asset to the board.
"I know how government can work well," he told the audience. "I have experience building partnerships to solve problems and create opportunities. I want to put my skills to work for Saranac Lake's future."
Van Cott said his top priority is economic development, adding, "I'd bet you never thought you'd hear that from an environmental lawyer." He pledged to work with community leaders to bring job-creating businesses to the village. He promised to support the growth of the village's major institutions like Trudeau Institute and Adirondack Medical Center, and he offered to help the owners of the Hotel Saranac return it to its "proper place at the center of our community."
Van Cott said reducing taxes is another goal, "starting with the hundreds of thousands of dollars we pay each year to North Elba, Harrietstown and St. Armand for no services. I will work to reduce or eliminate those taxes." He also pledged to make Saranac Lake a better place to live by improving streets and sidewalks, and supporting community events.
Village Democratic Party Chairman Tom Catillaz asked if there were any nominations for the village justice seat. When no one spoke up, village Mayor Clyde Rabideau, a Democrat, recommended the caucus endorse McLaughlin, a Republican who is currently a village and town justice.
"I think he's done a great job, he's been apolitical, and I think our party can embrace him wholeheartedly," Rabideau said.
The nomination was approved unanimously. The justice seat, which carries a two-year term, was held by Thomas Glover, who retired last year. McLaughlin's current village justice term will expire in April, when the board plans to eliminate the position as part of a plan to dissolve village court.
Village Republicans will hold their caucus at 7 p.m. tonight in the town hall. It will immediately be followed by the village Conservative Party caucus.
Branch has said he plans to seek the GOP endorsement for another term in office. McEneany told the Enterprise last week that he hadn't made up his mind about running for re-election, although village Republican Committee Chairman Ray Scollin said in an email Monday that McEneany told him he will run again and asked to be on the ballot for tonight's caucus.
Van Cott, a registered Democrat, told the Enterprise last month that he also planned to seek an endorsement from the village Republican caucus. However, Van Cott said Monday night that he ultimately decided not to seek the GOP endorsement. He said he met with Scollin recently and was told that the Republicans had several people from their own party interested in running for one of the seats.
The village election is March 20.
