Meet Craig
CRAIG A. HAYNER
Craig knows the value of hard work and commitment to community. Growing up on his family’s dairy farm in Halfmoon, New York, Craig learned the valuable lessons of honesty, resourcefulness, determination, and perseverance – daily lessons instilled in him and his brothers by their parents, Carol and Harvey. Those lessons continue to guide him today in his role as Saratoga County Clerk and as a local small business owner.
Community
His roots in Saratoga County run deep. Craig grew up in this community and raised his own family here.
The Hayner family farmland has graced the Halfmoon landscape for five generations. Today, the Hayner family welcomes community members to enjoy the property with their long-standing family-run businesses. In 1998, Craig and his wife Carolyn opened Hayner’s Ice Cream, which sits adjacent to his brother’s athletic training complex, The Sports Barn. In 2001, The Southern Saratoga Chamber of Commerce honored Craig and Carolyn for their endeavors as “Entrepreneurs of the Year.”
Craig and Carolyn have been married for 28 years and live in the home they built on Hayner family property where he grew up. He is committed father of four adult children ages 21 to 27 who all live locally. Craig also is recognized in the community for the many years he happily dedicated to coaching local youth baseball and softball teams in Halfmoon and Clifton Park.
For Craig, serving as your County Clerk, isn’t just about helping to make Saratoga County the best it can be, it’s about preserving our community’s history and ensuring our county is a welcoming place families can call home for generations to come.
Team
Craig’s lifelong passion for sports and “team first” approach continues to inspire others and deliver results today. Craig credits the support and encouragement of his parents as well as the many life lessons he learned working on the family farm and playing varsity and collegiate sports as foundational to his character development, strong work ethic, and desire for stewardship. Craig has taken his leadership and teambuilding skills from playing field to the public service field, shaping the County Clerk and Department of Motor Vehicle teams to incorporate a servant-leadership style that benefits our community with top-notch, efficient customer service with respect for all.
Service
Craig first answered the call to serve his community in 2007 when he was elected Councilman in the Town of Halfmoon. He was re-elected in 2011. During his time as Councilman, Craig served as Chair of the Open Space, Trails, and Ethics Committees and as liaison to the Town Recreation and Parks Departments. He helped deliver fiscally responsible budgets in a difficult economy, accomplished legislative ethics reform, and provided additional recreational opportunities through smart investment for Halfmoon residents.
Craig considers being elected as your County Clerk the highest honor of his professional career and is grateful and humbled to be serving the people of Saratoga County. Craig was first elected Saratoga County Clerk in 2013 and has translated his 15-years of business experience working for some of America’s most recognizable brands, including HJ Heinz, Campbells, and General Mills, to improving customer service and efficiency at every level of the County Clerk’s Office. He has steered his team to success in both the County Clerk’s Office and Department of Motor Vehicles through instilling guiding principles that focus on People, Vision, Service, Stewardship, Integrity, and Quality.
As Saratoga County Clerk, Craig has led the effort to modernize the records office by digitizing more than 20 million records. This innovation allows for online access to public records while improving efficiency of office procedures and preserving thousands of historical documents. He has modernized the Saratoga County DMV streamlining your in-office experience, reducing wait times, and incorporating an online appointment system. He has prioritized our veterans by improving and expanding the Saratoga County Veteran’s F.A.V.O.R. program. These improvements have resulted in savings to the residents of Saratoga County with reduced overhead costs to running the County Clerk’s Office and increased revenue that directly benefits the County’s Budget.