Another Dem to Run for Mayor

In a surprise announcement today, Carmen Harlow has announced he will be running in the Democrat primary for Mayor of Syracuse. Harlow is a former County Legislator and currently serves as the Deputy Commissioner of Public Works in the Driscoll Administration. He joins Joe Nicoletti and Alfonso Davis in their efforts to take the nomination from party-designated candidate Stephanie Miner. Anybody else want to give it a shot? It's the cool thing to do.

Indy Party Endorsements*

On Thursday morning, Maleta Snell, County Chairwoman of the Independence Party, posted a list of local candidates that would be receiving the Independence Party endorsement this year on the Onondaga County Independence Party Facebook page. County Legislature candidates and City of Syracuse candidates receiving the Independence Party endorsement are listed below:

County Legislature:

1st District: Joe Coleman, challenger, (D).

2nd District: David Stewart, challenger (primary), (R).

3rd District: Ed Szczesniak, challenger, (D).

4th District: Dave Stott, incumbent, (D).

5th District: Kathy Rapp, incumbent, (R).

6th District: Jim Rhinehart, incumbent, (R).

7th District: Tom Buckel, incumbent, (D).

8th District: No Decision, primary between Jim Corbett, incumbent, (R) and Jim Ennis, challenger, (D).

9th District: Mark Stanczyk, incumbent, (D).

10th District: Kevin Holmquist, incumbent, (R).

11th District: Pat Kilmartin, incumbent, (R).

12th District: Bob Demore, incumbent, (R).

13th District: Bob Warner, incumbent, (R).

14th District: No Decision, primary between Casey Jordan, incumbent, (R) and Chuck Henry, challenger, (D).

15th District: Bill Kinne, incumbent, (D).

16th District: Sam Laguzza, incumbent, (D).

17th District: Marty Masterpole, incumbent, (D).

18th District: Monica Williams, incumbent, (D).

19th District: Linda Ervin, (D), open seat.

City of Syracuse:

Mayor: Stephanie Miner, (D), open seat.

Common Council President: Van Robinson, (D), open seat.

Common Councilors At-Large: Lance Denno, (D) and Jean Kessner, (D) both open seats.

Common Council, 1st District: Matthew Rayo, challenger, (R).

Common Council, 2nd District: Patrick Hogan, incumbent, (D)

Common Council, 3rd District: Ryan McMahon, incumbent, (R).

Common Council, 4th District: Tom Seals, incumbent, (D).

Common Council, 5th District: Nader Maroun (D), open seat.

*The viability of these endorsements depends on the outcome of a court battle between the Onondaga County Independence Party and the New York State Independence Party. The state party contends that the county organization broke party rules and has asked a judge to disallow the county party fom nominating and endorsing candidates. The county party insists it has acted within state party guidelines. The case appears before New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas McNamara on Monday, June 1st.

Bea Backs Joe, Steph Strikes Back

On Wednesday, Common Council President and former mayoral candidate Bea Gonzalez endorsed former NYS Assemblyman Joe Nicoletti for Mayor. The endorsement took place at the Palace Theater, which is owned by Common Councilor Michael Heagerty, another Nicoletti supporter. Nicoletti is running a primary campaign against the Democrat’s official pick, Stephanie Miner.

Not to be outdone, on Thursday, Stephanie Miner gathered several County Legislators whose districts overlap the City of Syracuse and most of her colleagues on the Common Council for a press conference where all who attended announced their support for Stephanie Miner. Present were County Legislators Marty Masterpole, Tom Buckel and Monica Williams, along with Common Councilors Bill Ryan, Pat Hogan, Tom Seals, Lance Denno and Kathleen Joy. Absent from either endorsement were County Legislators Bill Kinne, Sam Laguzza, Lovie Winslow and Mark Stanczyk, along with Van Robinson, an At-Large Common Councilor running for Common Council President.

This interparty drama is evidence of a divide between local Democrats. Stephanie Miner is perceived as an obstructionist and is not well-liked in the City of Syracuse, though she is certainly a formidable candidate. Bea mentioned Stephanie’s temperament as a turn-off in her endorsement of Joe Nicoletti and I expect we will be hearing more about Stephanie’s temperament as the primary continues and more Democrats pick sides.

Gillibrand Rolls Out CNY Endorsements

In an effort to ward off primary challenges, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has been rolling out early endorsements. Her most recent endorsements include two prominent Central New York Democrats: Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll and Congressman Mike Arcuri (NY-24). Notably absent was Congressman Dan Maffei (NY-25), who may be waiting to see how the field shapes up before he makes up his mind.

“It is already clear that Senator Gillibrand understands the needs of families across Central New York. I am proud to endorse her campaign for U.S. Senate. As an Upstater, Kirsten knows that high speed rail and our green economy are key components of Syracuse’s economic recovery. That’s why she’s working with President Obama to create jobs in Upstate New York and secure the federal dollars we need to promote economic growth.”

-Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll

“As a fellow Upstater, Kirsten understands the struggles of our communities and families during these tough economic times. Together, we will continue fighting to create jobs and jumpstart the Upstate economy.”

-Congressman Mike Arcuri (NY-24)

Wherefore Art Thou, Howie Hawkins?

Local Republicans and Democrats have designated candidates for Mayor of Syracuse, both of whom are facing primary challenges. Syracuse Common Council races are starting to shape up, too. As petition season fast approaches, one question remains: what office will Howie Hawkins run for this year? Local offices that Howie has run for in the past include Mayor, Common Council At-Large and 4th District Common Councilor. The perennial Green Party candidate has not revealed his intentions for this year’s election season, but rest assured he will be a very active campaigner for whatever office he chooses to pursue. We wish him well in his endeavors and look forward to seeing him on the campaign trail.

Van In, Bill Out

Van Robinson, currently an At-Large Councilor on the Syracuse Common Council, was endorsed by the Democrat Party to run for Common Council President this fall. Bill Ryan, another At-Large Councilor also sought the nomination, but announced this weekend that he would not challenge Van Robinson in a primary. Bill Ryan will serve out the remaining two years of his term. Van Robinson currently has no Republican opposition for the seat.

County Legislature Races, First Look

The Onondaga County Republicans announced their candidates for County Legislature a few weeks ago and Democrats followed suit a few days ago. Here is a brief first look at the races that are shaping up for this fall:

1st District:
Rich Lesniak, incumbent, (R) vs. Joe Coleman, former Lafayette schools superintendent, (D).

2nd District:
Bernie Kraft, incumbent*, (R) vs. Donna Marsh O’Connor, Liverpool school board member, (D).
*Bernie Kraft faces David Stewart, corporate lawyer, (R) in a primary challenge.

3rd District:
Bill Meyer, Chairman, incumbent, (R) vs. Ed Szczesniak, former County Elections Commissioner, (D).

4th District:
Dave Stott, incumbent, (D) vs. Judy Tassone, Chairperson, Salina Citizens Bicentennial Committee (R).

5th District:
Kathy Rapp, Republican Floor Leader, incumbent, (R), unopposed.

6th District:
Jim Rhinehart, incumbent, (R), unopposed.

7th District:
Tom Buckel, incumbent, (D), unopposed.

8th District:
Jim Corbett, incumbent, (R) vs. Jim Ennis, former Geddes Town Councilor, (D).

9th District:
Mark Stanczyk, Democrat Floor Leader, incumbent, (D) vs. Mike Sutton, former director of St. Marie Among the Iroquois Living History Museum, (R).

10th District:
Kevin Holmquist, incumbent, (R) vs. Ralph Jones, former NYS Assembly candidate, (D).

11th District:
Pat Kilmartin, incumbent, (R), unopposed.

12th District:
Bob Demore, incumbent, (R), unopposed.

13th District:
Bob Warner, incumbent, (R), unopposed.

14th District:
Casey Jordan, incumbent, (R) vs. Chuck Henry, North Syracuse Village Trustee, (D).

15th District:
Bill Kinne, incumbent, (D), unopposed.

16th District:
Sam Laguzza, incumbent, (D) vs. Kevin Kuehner, lawyer and adjunct professor at Syracuse University, (R).

17th District:
Marty Masterpole, incumbent, (D), unopposed.

18th District:
Monica Williams, incumbent, (D), unopposed.

19th District (open seat):
Linda Ervin, former Jamesville-Dewitt School Board member, (D), unopposed.

Keep in mind that this information is likely to change! Candidates may drop out and/or other candidates may appear in primaries or in races against candidates that are currently unopposed. Keep checking back for the latest! Make sure to visit Democracywise for candidate profiles.

Rep. Dan Maffei (D, Bizarro World)

The following YouTube video has been circulating the Internet. The video shows portions of a House Judiciary Committee hearing regarding updated hate crimes legislation. An amendment was offered to prevent pedophiles from being protected under the new regulations. Congressman Dan Maffei, who is on the Judiciary Committee, voted against the amendment, in effect allowing pedophiles to become a protected group, alongside ethnic and racial minorities and people of various sexual orientations. Another amendment was offered to include members of the armed services as a protected group under the hate crimes legislation, but Maffei voted against it.

If further evidence was needed that Maffei lives in Bizarro World, he also thinks that “fashion piracy” is an urgent, pressing issue in Central New York and has co-sponsored legislation to that effect.

Steph Gets Party Nod; Joe and Alfonso Don't Care

It was reported yesterday that Stephanie Miner won the support of the Democrat Party in her race for Mayor of Syracuse. As much as I would like to say that we can look forward to Stephanie Miner and Otis Jennings debate issues that are important to Syracuse voters between now and Election Day, we all know that isn’t going to happen. Both Stephanie and Otis face primary challenges. Democrats Joe Nicoletti and Alfonso Davis vowed to slog on through the summer, hoping to defeat Stephanie Miner in a September primary. As I mentioned before, at this stage of the game it appears that the Democrat primary will be the de facto general election, and while Joe Nicoletti has the potential to make the race competitive, Stephanie Miner will likely emerge victorious. That being said, it’s only May, folks. Anything can happen.