Kessner celebrates with supporters on election night. (Silvia Milanova)
Democrat Jean Kessner has won an at-large seat on the Syracuse Common Council.
“I am really happy,” said Kessner in an interview as the results came in Tuesday night. “I have worked really, really hard and I think that everybody in this city wants the same things — to move forward. We want to watch it succeed. If you’re willing to work hard, people will help you do it.”
Kessner was one of two winners in unofficial results. The other winner is Democrat Lance Denno.
As of 10:54 p.m., with 100 percent of the vote counted, Kessner had 43.5 percent, compared to Denno’s 32 percent. In unofficial results from the Onondaga County Board of Elections, Kessner claimed 13,639 while Denno won 10,032. Republican Fanny Villerreal lost her first bid for public office, with 24.3 percent. Villerreal had 7,615 votes.
On election day, Kessner and a friend bought apples, bananas, oranges and an assortment of nuts and made goody bags for the poll workers. She visited about 30 of the 67 polling places in the city, Kessner said, and delivered the goody bags to the workers and thanked them for their hard work.
In voter registration, Kessner and Denno had a 3-1 advantage over Republican Villarreal. In Syracuse, Democrats have 38,863 voters compared to 12,980 Republicans.
The two winners succeed winning mayoral candidate Stephanie Miner and council president candidate, Van Robinson, whose terms as councilors are coming to an end. Both are Democrats.
At the polls on Tuesday, voters expressed their enthusiasm for casting their ballots.
At Edward Smith School polling place, Gloria Kein and Norman Kein were proud of their party loyality. “We’re both Democrats,” said Gloria Kein. Added Norman Kein: “Strong Democrats.”
So they voted for Stephanie Miner for mayor and for the two Democrats for At-Large candidates. Gloria Kein picked Jean Kessner , a former TV reporter, because she remembers Kessner from her “TV days.”
Other voters also voted by party line.
Corey Falter, 27, a student at Syracuse University, voted for the “two Working Family candidates.” His wife, Ellie Falter, 25, a teacher in the Syracuse school district, also voted for the two Democratic candidates. On why: “Because they’re Democrats.”
That would be both Denno and Kessner, who were endorsed by both the Democratic and Working Families parties.
For her part, Kessner expressed gratitude for her supporters. Most recognize her from her reporting years, said Kessner. “I got nothing but good feelings all day,” said Kessner. “I didn’t get any disrespect. I am very encouraged.”
(Silvia Milanova is a senior in newspaper journalism and nutrition.)
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