For the county’s top money manager, incumbent Robert Antonnacci is the only candidate expressing interest so far for the fall election.
Antonacci, a Republican and resident of Salina, is seeking re-election as the Onondaga County comptroller. “As an incumbent, I believe that I have shown that I am willing to take on the tough task and I’m willing to do different things to get involved. Hopefully, I will earn their trust for four more years,” said Antonacci.
As of March 31, the Democratic Party did not yet have potential candidates expressing interest in opposing Antonacci. Both parties designate their official candidates in the late spring. The election is Nov. 8.
Onondaga County is one of eight in New York to elect the position of comptroller. The comptroller is responsible for Onondaga County’s finances and accounting, advises other departments on budget, and makes sure the public is aware of county spending. The comptroller is elected every four years without a term limit.
The last election for comptroller was in 2007, when Antonacci was elected over Democrat Richard Brickwedde, a Syracuse attorney.
Antonacci is 42 years old and no stranger to Onondaga County. Antonacci got his bachelor’s degree in accounting at Le Moyne College and his law degree from Syracuse University. He worked as a certified public accountant in Syracuse for 20 years while teaching business law at Le Moyne College. He has experience as comptroller and budget director for the town of Salina. Antonacci and his wife, Michele, have a son and a daughter.
For his re-election bid, Antonacci cites his experience as an attorney and accountant.
“Governments need to be lean, mean and efficient. To have an accountant is in the best interest of the taxpayers,” says Robert Antonacci.
As county comptroller, Antonacci launched Project Sunshine, a website allowing the public to check county spending at the click of a button. Project Sunshine has released figures for county personnel travel expenses and the transfers of county officials within departments.
Transparency is the number one job as comptroller, he said. “It is so important to be able to communicate with the taxpayers as easily as I can at their convenience on a day to day basis,” said Antonacci.
(Chelsea Damberg is a junior with dual majors in broadcast journalism and policy studies.)
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