The Saratoga Torch Club will recognize Matthew E. Veitch, longtime Saratoga Springs representative on the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, for his 18 years of distinguished public service at a dinner and program on Monday evening, December 15, at the Saratoga Springs Holiday Inn.
We’ll also wish him well and hear his plans in his new role as City Historian.
The event will open with a cash-bar dinner at 6:00 p.m., followed by remarks from Supervisor Veitch at 7:00 p.m. Admission is $40 per person, payable by cash or check at the door. Reservations should be made by Thursday, December 14, via the form you’ll find below.
The Saratoga Torch Club is a nonprofit forum that brings together professionals and citizens from across disciplines to exchange ideas, foster understanding, and promote civic dialogue. The Saratoga chapter was established in 2021 to encourage dialogue among leaders in business, education, government, and the arts throughout the Capital Region.
First elected in 2007, Matt Veitch has been a steady and respected presence in local government for nearly two decades. Representing Saratoga Springs on the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, he has earned a reputation for pragmatism, collaboration, and long-term civic stewardship. During his 18 years of service, he has played a pivotal role in initiatives that improved infrastructure, expanded public safety, promoted environmental sustainability, and strengthened city–county cooperation.
Mayor John Safford, in recognizing Veitch’s decision not to seek reelection in 2025, called it “the end of an era,” noting his consistent dedication to the city and his rare ability to “build bridges instead of barriers.”
Among his many achievements, Veitch championed the Geyser Road Trail project that first drew him into public service and went on to found the Saratoga County Trails and Open Space Committee, which established new grant and reserve funds for conservation. He helped secure county support for the city’s third fire station and new EMS facility, led efforts to modernize government transparency through meeting livestreams, and advocated for the creation of a permanent Code Blue shelter to assist the city’s homeless residents.
Beyond his policy work, Veitch has also emerged as one of Saratoga’s leading public historians, dedicating time to documenting the city’s experience with urban renewal and the communities displaced by it. His lectures and research have shed light on a complex period in Saratoga’s history—one that saw progress mixed with loss—and he continues to lead efforts to commemorate the neighborhoods, churches, and Black-owned businesses erased during that era.
The Saratoga Torch Club is a nonprofit forum that brings together professionals and citizens from across disciplines to exchange ideas, foster understanding, and promote civic dialogue. The Saratoga chapter was established in 2021 to encourage dialogue among leaders in business, education, government, and the arts throughout the Capital Region.
To Reserve Seats for Dinner
Please make reservations for our Evening with Matthew Veitch by Thursday, December 11.