The incumbents for the two open Saratoga City Council seats are set to run unopposed in November. The candidate nomination period came to a close on Aug. 9, and no one but councilmembers Kookie Fitzsimmons and Tina Walia had taken out papers.
Both Fitzsimmons and Walia were elected to the council in 2020, and served as mayor in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Fitzsimmons came to the council after six years on the planning commission, and is known for her involvement in the city’s business community. Born and raised in Saratoga, Fitzsimmons’ family owned an antique store and flower shop in the Saratoga Village for several years, according to the city’s website.
Walia was also on the planning commission for a number of years, serving as chair twice. She has years of professional experience in business and a background in architecture.
Re-election would mean the second and last terms for both Walia and Fitzsimmons, thanks to legislation that Saratoga voters approved in 2022 that set a strict cap on the number of terms people could serve on the council.
Walia had previously expressed support for the city’s two-term limit, saying she was “thrilled” about the outcome after the measure received widespread support from voters. Opponents of the measure argued that it would contribute to a loss of institutional knowledge on the council.
“Voters have reconfirmed that they want to see new ideas and new people on the city council,” Walia told this publication in 2022.
