Saratoga Springs City Council candidate arraigned on new charges

Samantha Guerra, the Republican candidate for Saratoga Springs City Council who is accused of altering petitions, appeared in court Tuesday.

Guerra was arraigned on two new misdemeanor charges. However, a judge dismissed previous charges against her. Guerra pleaded not guilty to the new charges.

The new charges fall under a different section of the state’s election law, which is described as the following:

"Being a notary public, commissioner of deeds or a subscribing witness to a petition, provided for in this chapter, for the designation or nomination of a candidate, or a petition for opportunity to ballot at a primary election, thereby makes a false statement or makes a false affidavit thereon"

Last month, Schenectady County District Attorney, Bob Carney, was appointed as special prosecutor. Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen made the request, telling NewsChannel 13 her office had a conflict.

Back in September, Guerra’s opponent, Democrat Dillon Moran, accused her of attesting to forged signatures. Moran held a news conference where he showed several examples of signatures that appeared to be different from the signatures on file with the Board of Elections.

Guerra is being represented by former Capital Region Congressman John Sweeney and well-known defense attorney Oscar Schreiber. Schreiber tells NewsChannel 13 they are essentially back at the beginning.

"I was provided with the discovery today," he said. "I asked the judge for some time to review the discovery. It is very voluminous. The DA has 35 days to provide me with it. They did provide it today. I will review it in the next couple of days and weeks in my office."

Guerra is expected back in court at 9 a.m. on January 11.