Hamilton Mayor RuthAnn Loveless visited the Max Shacknai Center for Outreach, Volunteerism and Education (COVE) on Tuesday, Sept. 23, for her talk, “Addressing Local Issues: Insights on Governance and Community Needs with Mayor Loveless.” Loveless, who has served as mayor of the village since 2017, offered candid reflections on her years in office and described the unique intricacies of leading the village that Colgate University students call home.
Moderated by junior and COVE Civic Engagement Intern Jaden Coley in collaboration with the Colgate Vote Project and Democracy Matters, the talk aimed to foster open dialogue between Colgate students and local officials.
“During our weekly meetings last semester with both the Colgate Vote Project and Democracy Matters, we discussed ways to connect students with local leaders, and thought it would be a good idea to bring in a local voice to highlight the importance of civic engagement at the community level,” Coley said. “Since we all attend Colgate University, located in the village of Hamilton, we thought it would be especially meaningful to invite Mayor Loveless to campus.”
Loveless, who has been involved in the Colgate community for 56 years, is now in her ninth year as mayor. Last year, she was named President of the New York State Conference of Mayors. She plans to retire at the end of her current term in 2027 at the age of 80.
“Being involved in a community that I desperately love is very important to me,” Loveless said. “I’m going to guess that you have no idea the complexities of our village. I didn’t before I became involved in becoming mayor, but I’m very proud of it.”
Loveless outlined several initiatives addressing the particular challenges that face a small village, including sourcing outside funding, increasing the tax base, strengthening the business district and building more affordable housing options. She emphasized that Hamilton’s most pressing issue is the shortage of housing for those who work in the village.
“There are about 2,000 people who work in Hamilton that don’t live here. [Without affordable housing], businesses lose potential employees because they don’t find a place to live, so that is a major, major issue,” Loveless said.
Extensive changes are underway for both Colgate and the village in an effort to resolve these issues, including the construction of 41 new apartments for permanent residents in town. Regarding the empty storefronts, Loveless claims all but one is on track to be filled by a new business. Additional infrastructure projects are set to move ahead. The drainage of Lake Moraine is scheduled to begin before winter and the reconstruction of Highway 12B is expected to start next year.
“We have so many projects right now that are right on the verge. It’s pushing these along. I almost didn’t run this time, but then I thought of all the things we did the background work on. I wanted to be part of them, and I wanted to see them through,” Loveless said.
When asked about the legacy she will leave behind, Loveless spoke of her many years of service in nearly every corner of Hamilton.
“It has been an honor to serve as mayor. I truly did not know if I would like it. I do worry when I am not mayor what I’ll do,” Loveless said. “The busier I am, the better I am.”
Julie Dudrick, a trustee of the village of Hamilton, underscored the lasting impact Loveless has made on the Hamilton community.
“There are so many amazing resources RuthAnn has brought into the village over the last several years. In the following years, when she’s gone, you will see all of these developments and changes all brought in because of the connections she made and the resources she tapped into on behalf of all of the people who live here,” Dudrick said.
Loveless ran for mayor uncontested for five terms. Many residents of Hamilton are already wondering who will follow in her footsteps come 2027.
“I have strong thoughts. So, fingers are crossed,” Loveless said.
Coley noted he was struck by the wide range of responsibilities carried by the mayor of a small village like Hamilton.
“The role of being a mayor extends beyond just managing town operations. Many of these responsibilities include managing and building relationships with community members, local businesses and institutions like Colgate University, to ensure that the needs of different groups are heard and addressed,” Coley said.
For Loveless, Colgate students have long been an essential part of what makes the village thrive. With her decades of experience in Hamilton, she has seen firsthand how the student body supports the local community.
“We are the envy [of other villages] because we have so many students who are very gracious about donating their time. Our fire department and emergency programs would not function without the volunteering of Colgate students,” she said. “Our population without students is about 2,000, so when you guys are here, you more than double the population in the village. I love the energy, I love the activity, I love that you help the economic base – all of those things. I am thrilled that you’re here. It makes such an impact.”
