Category Archives: Fall 2007

Immigration is a volatile political issue for the 2008 presidential contenders. Controversy surrounds immigration: Illegal immigrants, for example, face accusations that they unfairly take jobs away from Americans. They can be exploited by employers and have no protections. And the … Continue reading →

Not enough money. That’s a big problem for the big goals of the No Child Left Behind legislation. The federal government passed the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001 to fight inequality in education. The law set a national … Continue reading →

Fear of illness. Fear of injury. Fear of debt Those fears are all too familiar to the 47 million Americans and more than 50,000 Onondaga County residents without medical insurance. Consider these statistics: Nationally, 15 percent of Americans — about … Continue reading →

Some pregnant women in Central New York are having a harder time finding a doctor to deliver their babies. It’s part of the national physician shortage. Here’s a closer look at how the shortage will affect local physicians and patients: … Continue reading →

Democratic candidate Victoria Lightcap is the unofficial loser for the 12th District seat in the Onondaga County Legislature on Tuesday.  She lost to Republican Bob DeMore, but Lightcap called the race a good sign for her. “I think that he … Continue reading →

Democrat Kathleen Joy is celebrating her re-election to the Syracuse Common Council. She was second in the unofficial vote totals behind fellow Democrat Bill Ryan — but that still puts her back in City Hall as a councilor-at-large. She’s okay … Continue reading →

In the race for the Common Council seat from the First District, Democrat Michael Heagerty has won. He defeated Republican Albert Julian and Conservative candidate Kurt Schmelling. According to WTVH-TV, with 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Heagerty received 67 … Continue reading →

Democrat Bill Magnarelli conceded his loss in the race for Onondaga County executive Tuesday night. With 100 percent of the vote in, the unofficial tally was 68,183 votes for his opponent Republican Joanie Mahoney and 42,144 votes for Magnarelli, according … Continue reading →

Howie Hawkins has run and lost campaigns for public office 13 times in the past 14 years. His losing streak continued Tuesday, when he failed to win a seat on the Syracuse Common Council as an at-large councilor. But he … Continue reading →

In a landslide victory, Republican Joanie Mahoney became the new Onondaga County executive Tuesday night. “I’m humbled and honored to be standing here tonight as your next county executive,” Mahoney told a raucous, chanting crowd at the Republicans’ election-night party … Continue reading →

After an aggressive campaign, Democrat Tom Buckel will join the Onondaga County legislature from District 7. “We did an awful lot of campaigning,” Buckel said in a phone interview from his car enroute to Democratic headquarters Tuesday evening. “We think … Continue reading →

In what is shaping up to be a large victory for the Democrats, Bill Ryan is headed back to the Syracuse Common Council as an at-large councilor. With 100 percent of the vote counted, Ryan and fellow Democrat Kathleen Joy … Continue reading →

In a rare open contest for the Common Council, the Republican candidate Al Julian has lost his campaign for the First District seat. The unofficial winner, according to Channel 5, is Democrat Michael Heagerty. Shortly after 11 p.m., Julian offered … Continue reading →

Republican incumbent Jim DiBlasi has lost to Democrat Tom Buckel for the 7th District seat in the Onondaga County Legislature.  DiBlasi has represented District 7 since 1999. “I wasn’t expecting this. I thought this year with the way races were … Continue reading →

Republican Bob DeMore has won the 12th District seat in the Onondaga County Legislature. “I feel really good. I worked really hard. I went to over 3,000 homes and I enjoyed the experience. I look forward to being in the … Continue reading →

Onondaga County has 177 drainage districts, 188 street-lighting districts, 35 fire- protection districts and 20 garbage districts. That’s too much government repetition, says Joanie Mahoney, the Republican candidate for  Onondaga County executive. She joins a long-standing but so far unsuccessful … Continue reading →

For her political money, Republican Joanie Mahoney is tapping local donors, some businesses and her own bank account. Mahoney is running for Onondaga County executive against Democrat Bill Magnarelli in the Nov. 6 election. The two hope to succeed Nick … Continue reading →

The choices are simpler now in the race for Onondaga County executive. Both of the losers in the Republican and Democratic primaries have decided to endorse their parties’ winners. For the Republicans, Dale Sweetland decided on October 10 to endorse … Continue reading →

Shared government services makes sense and saves money, says Republican candidate Bob DeMore. He is running for the 12th District seat in the Onondaga County Legislature. “Consolidation makes sense where people want to do it. It’s a direction to move … Continue reading →

Howie Hawkins knows how it feels to live in poverty. “There have been times when I was unemployed and couldn’t pay my bills,” Hawkins said. “And this city’s not going to go anywhere unless it deals with those who are … Continue reading →

Even losing is expensive in the race for Onondaga County executive. Just ask Democrat Ed Ryan and Republican Dale Sweetland. Ryan, for example, raised $142,432 before losing the Democratic nomination to Bill Magnarelli in the primary on Sept. 18. And … Continue reading →

Education would be a top priority in her county government administration, promises Joanie Mahoney, the Republican candidate for Onondaga County executive. “I want this community to be a real opportunity for our children,” Mahoney said at a recent debate. She … Continue reading →

A potential legal cloud is hanging over the campaign of Republican Al Julian in the Common Council’s First District race. That cloud is a question about his residency and whether he’s eligible to run in the First District. To be … Continue reading →

More money for public libraries is on the agenda for Democrat Bill Magnarelli as he runs for Onondaga County executive. He is running against Republican Joanie Mahonie. Now Magnarelli is the representative of the 120th State Assembly District in Onondaga … Continue reading →

Sound of door-knocking: “I’m going for my fifth term on the legislature. Here’s my card with my number on it if you need me for anything. We’re going to give you a property tax decrease and we also have sheriffs … Continue reading →

His business success and community involvement are what Democrat Michael Heagerty says is his strongest pitch to voters in the Common Council’s First District. “I’ve got a proven track record. I’ve done this. I’ve dealt with these people. I’ve worked … Continue reading →

Bill Ryan wanted to make his bid for re-election to the Syracuse Common Council the talk of the town. And he says he succeeded. “I wanted to create a bit of a buzz.” [Ryan] Ryan, a Democract,  is running for … Continue reading →

Livable wages. Affordable housing. More educational opportunities. These are key concerns that convinced the Working Families Party to endorse Democratic candidate Tom Buckel for the Onondaga County Legislature. “Tom seemed to have a great handle on a lot of our … Continue reading →

A controversial curfew proposal is drawing support from at least three candidates in Tuesday’s election. But the curfew also is sparking concerns among others. Local civil rights groups and a few councilors running for re-election argue that curfews are extreme … Continue reading →

Friends are the biggest source of money for Al Julian as he campaigns for the First District Common Council seat. “I took from a list of friends of my father’s, friends of mine, friends of my mother’s, friends of the … Continue reading →

Governments galore: 19 towns, 15 villages, one city and one county. All for a population of about 450,000. Tom Buckel, the Democratic challenger in the 7th district Onondaga County legislature race, argues so many governments do more harm than good. … Continue reading →

Education in the city of Syracuse needs help. That’s the view of Bill Ryan, candidate for the Common Council. “Our education system in the city of Syracuse is broken. We’ve got to find another way to do it.” [Bill Ryan] … Continue reading →

To fill Dale Sweetland’s political shoes, three candidates are running for the Onondaga County Legislature’s 12th District seat. Sweetland has held the 12th District seat for 14 years. But this year, Sweetland was campaigning for county executive instead. He lost … Continue reading →

When it comes to political fundraising, Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins has a simple strategy: “I just go around talking to people,” said Hawkins, who is running for Syracuse Common Councilor-at-Large. So far, Hawkins has raised $2,730.68, according to a … Continue reading →

In the money race for Onondaga County’s First District Legislature seat, the Republican incumbent Richard Lesniak is ahead by about three dollars to one. That’s according to a financial disclosure report filed October 5th with the state Board of Election. … Continue reading →

With $100, Lisa Smith made personal political history. “I decided to donate to a candidate I believe in,” said Smith of Syracuse.  She has never before donated to a campaign. But this time a local candidate caught her eye. Smith’s … Continue reading →

Personal connections equal money in Republican Jim DiBlasi’s re-election campaign. He is a 4-term incumbent running in the 7th District for Onondaga County Legislature. He says he fundraises from the people who know him best. “A lot of people are … Continue reading →

Family, friends and unions are the money people in Democrat Bill Ryan’s bid for re-election to the Syracuse Common Council. Ryan has been an at-large councilor for four years. He says he has a strong relationship with the trade unions … Continue reading →

Her Christmas-card list was the start of political fundraising for Victoria Lightcap. “Starting from your Christmas list to people that you work with and people that live in your neighborhoods that you feel will support you through fundraisers, and if … Continue reading →

Peter Scalzo has known Bill Magnarelli for about forty years. They are both parishioners at Our Lady of Pompei Catholic Church. Scalzo says he never expected “Billy” to go into politics. But Scalzo says: “I was very happy when he … Continue reading →

Tom Buckel has knocked on a lot of doors lately. On this Friday afternoon, he strides down rain-splattered Pleasant Avenue on the north side of Syracuse. He sports a pale blue button-down shirt, khakis and his running shoes. He checks … Continue reading →

The top elected job in Onondaga County is up for grabs for the first time in 20 years. That’s the office of county executive — and it’s a full-time job that shapes much in and about the county. Political scientist … Continue reading →

The north side of Syracuse has been Al Julian’s home for over thirty years. Now he’s running for election to the Common Council from the First District, where he was born and raised. Al Julian is the Republican candidate for … Continue reading →

Michael Heagerty has always enjoyed building and fixing things. His sister Eileen says even as a young man friends and family could count on Heagerty for mechanical help. “If someone was in need or needed something repaired he’s always at … Continue reading →

Howie Hawkins looks right at home in the Onondaga County Green Party office on South Salina Street. Wearing a black polo shirt and well-worn jeans, he sits amid a clutter of tattered books, yellowed newsletters and campaign posters dating back … Continue reading →

At 42 years old, Joanie Mahoney has lived in Republican politics for more than 30 years. It was 1977 and a 12-year-old Joanie Mahoney got her first taste of campaigning. Her father, Bernard Mahoney, was making his first run for … Continue reading →

James DiBlasi says he enjoys a good challenge. “I have always been up to big challenges.” [James DiBlasi] When he first ran for the Onondaga County Legislature in District 7, for example, he was only 36 years old. He ran … Continue reading →

Kurt Schmeling was not a typical student. Instead of sitting through the usual classes five days a week, Schmeling spent most of his school days in the industrial shop. “What you got to understand is I really like to work … Continue reading →

Here’s an important foreign language lesson: Councilor-at-large. In the upcoming elections, you can elect two new councilors-at-large for the Syracuse City Common Council. And they have an important effect on your life. Here’s how: The Syracuse Common Council is like … Continue reading →

To make your voice heard, you have to get to the polls and cast your ballot on Election Day. So the first thing you’ll need to do is find your polling station. Some of them changed this year. Onondaga County … Continue reading →

Tom Seals won the 4th District primary with about 70 percent of the vote, according to Action News polling data. Tom Seals should be used to primaries by now. For the third time,  Seals faces on Tuesday  a Democratic primary … Continue reading →

Think about it as Democracy at Work. Come November, voters here have their greatest number of choices for the Onondaga County Legislature in more than 25 years. Consider these numbers in the election for Onondaga County Legislature:     All 19 … Continue reading →

Joan Johnson doesn’t care which candidate people vote for Tuesday. She simply hopes they vote. “I would hope,” Johnson said in a phone interview, “we would see a better turnout for this primary.” Johnson is president of the Syracuse chapter … Continue reading →

Even after the primary election on September 18, you get another chance at democracy in action. Once the primary races are over and the votes are calculated, the opposing parties and candidates start looking for even more voters on November … Continue reading →