Otis Gets Party Nod; Steve Doesn't Care

Otis Jennings walked away from his party’s nominating convention last night with the Republican Party’s designation as their official candidate for Mayor of Syracuse. Steve Kimatian walked away a sore loser. Otis Jennings allegedly drew support from more than 75% of Republican committee members in the vote. Kimatian made it clear he would be forcing a primary and spoke about taking his message to the thousands of registered Republicans in the city. By choosing to primary Mr. Jennings, Mr. Kimatian has made a deliberate commitment to waste time, energy and money in a knock-down, drag-out, bare-knuckle fight that will leave whatever candidate emerges victorious from the primary bruised, bloodied and battered with only six weeks to prepare for Election Day. The only comfort Republicans are feeling right now is that the Democrats promise to do the same. For a man who has been a registered Republican in Syracuse for less than a year, Mr. Kimatian seems intent on destroying the Republican Party’s ability to win a citywide race. To the 18% of city voters who are registered Republicans and would like nothing more than to see a Republican return to City Hall, that knife in your back belongs to Steve Kimatian. The Democrat’s primary election just became the de facto mayoral election. Congratulations.