(Brett LoGiurato)
In a surprisingly easy victory, Republican Matt Rayo, 23, is the winner in the District 1 Common Council race .
“I feel really good,” Rayo said in an interview as the unofficial vote totals made clear he had won. “I’m glad it’s over and I’m going to get some much needed rest in the next few days, but I’m excited and ready to get started.”
He unseated incumbent Working Families Party candidate Michael Heagerty. It was Rayo’s first run for office. This doubles the number of Republicans on the Common Council — from one to two. The other Republican is Ryan McMahon of District 3.
At the Oncenter Complex in downtown Syracuse, a jubilant Rayo gathered with other Republicans and multiple family members to celebrate the victory. Rayo beamed with bia big smile as he was greeted with thunderous applause by Republicans when it was announced he had won.
As of 10:45 p.m., with 100 percent of the vote counted, Rayo had 61.5 percent of the vote to Heagerty’s 38.4 percent, according to the Web site of the Onondaga County Board of Elections. The unofficial vote was 1,844 for Rayo to 1,154 for Heagerty.
In 2007, Heagerty ran for election in District 1 Democratic Party ballot line and won. But this time, he failed to collect the required number of signatures to stay on the line. In fact, he forgot to sign his own petition. The mistake meant he ran this time as the Working Families Party candidate.
At the polls on Tuesday, some voters expressed displeasure and frustration with the incumbent Heagerty and general amazement at his petition blunder that made them question his suitability for the job.
At the polling station at Transfiguration Church on Teall Avenue, Tom Roehm of Gertrude Street was one of those expressing dismay at the blunder. “I thought the petition thing was just a dumb move and a novice mistake,” said Roehm, a registered Republican. Roehm also voted for Rayo to bring the theme of change to Syracuse.
“I think we need fresh blood,” said Roehm. “And I would like to see a few Republicans on the council.”
Also at the Transfiguration Church polling station, voters Kim and Steve Linkinhoker of Hawley Avenue cast a vote for Rayo in part because of Heagerty’s lack of responsiveness to issues in their neighborhood. “We have called him numerous times over the past two years and he hasn’t returned a single phone call,” Kim Linkinhoker said.
At the Republican victory celebration, Rayo pledged to get started immediately, bringing fresh blood into the Common Council to shake things up. “I think that the council needs more balance,” Rayo said. “And I’m glad I can add my voice to be a part of that process. I can’t wait to get going.”
(Brett LoGiurato is a junior with dual majors in political science and newspaper journalism.)
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