Katie Stiles (Provided photo)

SARANAC LAKE — Five candidates are in the running for two seats on the Saranac Lake Village Board of Trustees.

Four of those candidates are on the ballot. Independents Sean Ryan and Katie Stiles are running on the Republican Party line as well as the independent “Sean Ryan for Saranac Lake” and “Integrity for Saranac Lake” party lines, respectively. Paul Van Cott and Aurora White are running a joint ticket on the Democratic and independent “Team Saranac Lake” party lines.

Fred Balzac, a Democrat, did not secure the Democratic line and did not file paperwork to get an independent line on the ballot and is instead running a write-in campaign.

Voters will choose two of these candidates to serve a four-year term. They will serve along with existing members of the village board — Mayor Jimmy Williams, Deputy Mayor Matt Scollin and Trustee Kelly Brunette.

A forum with the candidates on the ballot can be viewed on the Enterprise’s Facebook page in two parts at tinyurl.com/yk38tzk2 and tinyurl.com/4f2cc5jb.

On Election Day, March 19, polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. in the Harrietstown Town Hall auditorium.

Each election cycle, the Enterprise issues candidates a questionnaire, which they can answer in their own words.

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Katie Stiles

Age: 45

Profession: Real estate broker

Position sought: Saranac Lake Village Trustee

Q: Why are you running for village trustee?

A: I am running to bring my unique skill set as a real estate professional and community volunteer to our village board.

Q: What are your qualifications?

A: As the owner of a local real estate company, I have an in-depth understanding of our housing challenges, needs, and potential solutions. As a member of the Downtown Advisory Board, Housing Task Force and Development Board, I understand how our municipal efforts function and how they can be improved.

Q: What are your main goals?

A: My number one goal is to bring integrity and professionalism to our village board. Without a properly functioning board where members are civil and put personal differences aside, our community cannot be successful in tackling projects and issues like housing, infrastructure and improving inadequate emergency services facilities.

Q: What do you think are the three biggest problems in the town, and how do you propose solving them?

A: I believe the biggest problems we are currently facing are our dysfunctional village board, our lack of housing, and our need to improve the vitality of downtown.

As a real estate professional and member of the National Association of Realtors, we adhere to a code of ethics and understand our position holds us to a higher standard. This mindset is desperately needed within the current village board. Communication and working together are essential in my profession and I look forward to bringing those qualities back to our village board.

In regards to housing, our community needs more options. As a member of the Housing Task Force, I am already working to help us navigate through our housing crisis. In my career, I work every day navigating through the many complicated facets of our housing market. Having a real estate professional on the village board will be a valuable asset as we work to address our complex housing issues.

Saranac Lake has an encouraging momentum. However, we still have many vacancies in our downtown storefronts. We need to work together to attract new businesses and provide more reasons for people to visit and walk through our downtown district. In my day job, I work with investors to rehabilitate downtown buildings and bring back former local landmarks. As a member of the Downtown Advisory Board, I collaborate with other volunteers to help infuse downtown with energy. As a village trustee, I will continue to apply my abilities as a real estate professional to help facilitate a vibrant downtown for Saranac Lake.

Q: Other comments to voters?

A: Our community has needs that cannot be ignored. If we really want to tackle our housing issues and fill empty storefronts, we need a Trustee on our board who understands real estate and who can bring people

together to get things done.

I am truly excited about the momentum I see for our village. We cannot afford to move backwards with an unprofessional board that struggles to work together. In my career, I help people come together every day to find solutions for all types of problems. These are the qualities I will bring to the Saranac Lake Village Board.