Brunette said she made the decision to run for mayor recently and that she’s seeking to bring a change in tone and culture for the village.

“I think it’s the right time for the leadership I’m able to offer,” she said.

The Enterprise was not able to reach Mayor Jimmy Williams by deadline on Tuesday to ask if he is running for reelection.

Brunette will seek the Democratic line at that party’s caucus on Jan. 21. She said she’s still considering if she’ll seek any other lines.

Saranac Lake Village Trustee Kelly Brunette announces that she is running for mayor in Berekley Green Tuesday afternoon. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Both major political parties are planning caucuses to select candidates to represent their party lines on the ballot.

The Democrats will caucus at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 at the town hall auditorium.

To apply to be considered for the ballot, contact party Chair Jordanna Mallach at jordanna.mallach@gmail.com.

The Republicans will caucus at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 27 at the lower lobby of the town hall.

To apply to be considered for the ballot, contact party leaders Ray Scollin at 518-572-3013 or Bob Bevilacqua at 518-354-0199.

Brunette will be vacating her trustee seat to run for mayor. Her seat will be up for election on March 18, as will the seat for Trustee Matt Scollin.

–

Brunette

–

Brunette has spent five years on the board as a trustee — a one-year term and a full four-year term. She previously worked for the village for a decade in the community development office. She said she comes in with a lot of knowledge, especially about the village budget, which she said takes a couple of years to fully understand.

She said she knows the stress taxes put on residents and wants to manage all decisions the board makes with what the community can afford.

“People are frustrated right now,” Brunette said. “I’m hearing it from a lot of residents, that decisions feel rushed, not enough information is being given. I think we can do better than that.”

She said the mayor is responsible for setting the tone and the culture for the village.

“Communicate better, be kind and be fair and consistent,” Brunette said. “Leadership starts with listening.”

“We need to be more forthcoming with information on some big decisions,” she added.

Primarily, the controversial public safety building project is the biggest issue the village is tackling right now.

Brunette said the fire, ambulance and police departments need adequate and modern facilities. She just isn’t convinced the $27.5 million renovation of the former St. Pius X High School at 33 Petrova Ave. into a complex for the departments is the right way to do it. In recent weeks, she’s stated her belief that the village should change the scope and size of the project to make it more affordable.

Brunette said she’s frustrated it is taking so long to get through the preliminary steps.

“We haven’t made much progress with that project,” she said.

Still, she said their decisions should be measured.

“Saranac Lake is our home and it’s worth getting it right,” Brunette said.

When Brunette started on the board, she began a process to develop a Capital Improvement Plan — a comprehensive list of the large-scale infrastructure projects the village plans to make to its parks, sidewalks and water, sewer and public safety infrastructure, with a plan for prioritizing and funding these projects. It took a couple years for a task force to develop the plan, but they finished it this fall and the village board adopted it last month.

Now, Brunette said she’d like to follow and implement the plan from the mayoral seat.

“We’ve got all the pieces,” she said.

Brunette said the village has made significant steps for housing — the 70-unit Saranac Lofts apartments are nearing completion, the board passed a law regulating short-term vacation rentals which took effect this year and village committees have identified village-owned properties that can be used for housing. But she said there needs to be more action. Government moves slowly — she knows that all too well — but she feels they can do more to expedite housing advancements.

Brunette said she came to Saranac Lake for the mountains, but it was the people who made it home. She wants to give back.

–

Election information

–

Voting in the election will be held on March 18 in the Harrietstown Town Hall auditorium at 39 Main St. from noon to 9 p.m.

Independent candidates have been able to circulate petitions for two weeks now. These petitions need 100 signatures and must be filed with the village clerk from Feb. 3 and 10 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

A voter can either vote in a caucus or sign an independent petition. They cannot do both.

Voters signing petitions for independent candidates may only sign a petition for one candidate. If they sign a second petition for another candidate it will be invalidated.

Only registered members of the Republican or Democratic parties may participate in their caucuses. Non-party members can attend, but must sit separately and cannot speak or vote.

After the caucus begins, the floor will open for nominations. Voters will then voice nominations for the seat. All nominations need to be seconded.

If there are more nominations than open seats, people will be able to vote by paper ballot for one candidate to be on the ballot for the mayoral election and up to two candidates for the trustee election.

The last day to register to vote is March 6. Registering to vote can be done at the Department of Motor Vehicles, online at tinyurl.com/bdfaj9ze or by printing a form found at tinyurl.com/5yxvhtdh, filling it out and mailing it into the county board of elections office.

More information for the Franklin County Board of Elections can be found at tinyurl.com/bdbzacv2. More information for the Essex County Board of Elections can be found at essexcountyny.gov/board-of-elections.

The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is March 10. The last day for the village clerk to mail out an absentee ballot is March 11.