Left to right: Al Stirpe, Don Miller
Democratic incumbent Al Stirpe and Republican challenger Don Miller will be voters’ choices for New York’s 121st state Assembly seat in November.
Neither of candidates faced challengers from within their parties. The general election is Nov. 2.
The 121st state Assembly District consists of the towns of Cicero, Clay, Manlius, LaFayette and Pompey.
The 121st state Assembly District has 91,824 registered voters, according to the New York State Board of Elections. The district’s voter enrollment gives Republicans a slight edge, with 35.6 percent — or 32,696 voters — registered as Republicans. That compares to 31.5 percent — or 28,946 voters — registered as Democrats and another 25.7 percent — or 23,612 — registered as unaffiliated with any party.
Neither of the two campaigns responded to requests for interviews.
Here is a brief look at the two candidates:
Al Stirpe (incumbent, Democrat)
Al Stirpe, 57, took office in an open-seat election in 2006. Two years later he was re-elected, defeating his Republican challenger David Knapp.
Among his accomplishments, Stirpe cites:
- A 2007 overhaul of workers’ compensation insurance system to increase weekly benefits for all newly injured workers and encouraged the state to cut insurance rates 20. 5 percent in the fiscal year.
- A $38 million in capital funding to help build new buildings at SUNY- College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
- Help in getting $10 million for the Connective Corridor between Syracuse University and downtown.
In his four years as a state assemblyman, Stirpe has become the chair of the subcommittee on export trade and member of six other committees: Aging; Agriculture; Higher Education; Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry; Small Business; and Veterans’ Affairs.
Stirpe has been a resident of 121st state Assembly District for 26 years. Before entering politics, Stirpe worked as a financial analyst for General Electric and created his own software company called Qube Software, Inc. He lives in North Syracuse with his wife, Chele, and their 13-year-old daughter. He also has a stepson in the navy and a stepdaughter living in a home for the disabled in Syracuse.
Don Miller (challenger, Republican)
Don Miller, 44, works as a quality manager at the engineering firm Jadak Technologies. Miller lives in Clay with his wife, Tracy, and his two daughters.
In March, Miller won the nomination of the Republican Party. In July, Miller also picked up the endorsement of The Independence Party.
Miller has worked on the campaigns of former President Ronald Regan and Gov. George Pataki. But this is his first time as a candidate.
“I do not want to be a career politician,” says Miller on his campaign Web site.
On his Web site, he calls for getting rid of what he calls “job-killing” tax increases, like the state capital gains tax and the estate tax. He also calls for limiting elected officials to two four-year terms of office.
“I’ll make this promise to you: The day I become a good politician,” Miller says on his Web site, “is the day I’ll resign from office.”
(C.J. Baker is a junior majoring in broadcast & digital journalism.)
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