Jimmy Williams stands outside a business he co-owns, Bitters and Bones, on Friday. He's running for Saranac Lake village mayor. The election is on March 15. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

SARANAC LAKE — Saranac Lake mayoral candidate Jimmy Williams secured the Republican party line on the March 15 ballot at the Republican caucus Monday night. He was the only candidate seeking that party line.

Williams said he was honored that Republican voters nominated him and that he’d be seeking the Democrats’ endorsement at their caucus. The Democratic caucus was scheduled to happen after press time Tuesday.

“The Democratic nomination is just as important to me,” Williams said.

Williams — the owner of two downtown businesses, Bitters and Bones and T.F. Finnigan — is registered as an independent.

An Enterprise reporter was not allowed to observe the Republican caucus at the Say Real Estate offices Monday. The caucus only took a few minutes — Williams was the only candidate, so there was no need for a vote, only affirmation that the party wanted him. Mayoral candidate Jeremy Evans attended the caucus but said he’s not seeking either major party’s endorsement in an effort to run a truly independent campaign. He is registered as an independent, too.

Evans said he feels support from Republicans in his race — he was a member of the party until November 2021 — but he also said he feels some Democrats have misconceptions about him. He said some leaders of the Democratic Party in Saranac Lake have said things about him on social media that are not true. He said he planned to address these claims at Tuesday’s Democratic caucus and “set the record straight.”

Village Clerk Kareen Tyler said Evans will need at least 75 signatures to run on the independent line on March 15’s ballot. The village’s population recently dipped below 5,000 people, which puts it in the 75-signature threshold, according to Tyler.

There were no village trustee nominations at the Republican caucus. There are two trustee seats up for election.