(This story was updated Oct. 31, 2010, with information from an interview with state Sen. John DeFrancisco.)
When it comes to politics, state Sen. John DeFrancisco is with the band.
Just listen to New York jazz artist Joe Whiting of Skaneateles, one of the musicians with whom DeFrancisco has played his saxophone. Whiting has even endorsed DeFrancisco’s campaign.
“I’m a lifelong Democrat,” said Whiting. “But I always vote for the senator because I vote for the man.”
DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, is running for his tenth term representing the 50th state Senate District. His challenger is Democrat Kathleen Joy, a member of the Syracuse Common Council. The 50th Senate District covers the western portion of Syracuse and most of Onondaga County, including Skaneateles. The election is Nov. 2.
The 50th state Senate District favors Republican DeFrancisco slightly. There are 194,136 voters in the district. The Republican party has the most voters with 65,952; the Democrat party has 65,445 voters; the Independence Party has 9,140 voters; the Conservative party has 3,301 voters; the Working Families party has 890 voters; the Green party has 444 voters; and the Libertarian party has 85 voters. There are 48,879 voters who are unregistered with any party, according to the New York State Board of Elections.
The election is also gaining attention because the legislative races could change which party is in control of the state Senate. Of the 62 seats in the Senate, 32 are occupied by Democrats and 29 are filled by Republicans. There is one seat vacant from the 38th state Senate District.
In his campaign appearances, DeFranciso continues a tenacious approach to governing that has given him a reputation as a pit-bull for the GOP. His supporters cite his legislative successes and track record of bringing state money to the district as reasons for his re-election.
DeFrancisco is a lifetime resident of Syracuse. He and his wife Linda have three adult children and five grandchildren. Before becoming a state senator, DeFrancisco served 11 years on the Syracuse Common Council. He began as a Councilor-at-Large and served as Council president. And DeFrancisco also is a former president of the Syracuse City School District Board of Education.
In 1977, DeFrancisco ran and won his first political office on the Board of Education. It was a spur of the moment decision, he said, that has shaped his past three decades.
His inspiration, he said, was a plan for racially integrating schools that would have meant much confusion and hardship on his chidlren. “Back when my children were young, I was a parent within two walking blocks of a school. Back then, a new integration plan that the school came out with would have resulted in all of my kids going to three different schools,” said DeFrancisco. “I was so furious and I went to the meetings and a Democrat actually stopped me and said I should run for office.”
His first election was close. Seven candidates were running. The school board had openings for three members. He came in third, he recalls. And he often reflects on the election’s closeness. “I always wondered if I’d lost that if I’d ever get involved in politics,” said DeFrancisco.
DeFrancisco, who has a law degree from Duke University, has an extensive resume in the legal profession. For three years, he was a judge advocate in the Air Force. He’s been an assistant district attorney for Onondaga County. From 1978 to 1990, he was an adjunct law professor at Syracuse University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in engineering
In his pit-bull role for the Republicans, DeFrancisco also gets support from others who see those characteristics of stubbornness and tenaciousness as good attributes.
“When our daughter Jenna was murdered, John advocated on our behalf like a pit-bull,” said Janice Grieshaber. Janice’s daughter Jenna was murdered in 1997 by a violent offender who was on parole. DeFrancisco sponsored a bill, called “Jenna’s Law,” limiting parole for violent offenders.
Among other legislative accomplishments, DeFrancisco’s website also cites the Bill Leaf-Brandi Woods law and Craig J. Todeschini law that bill. The Bill Leaf-Brandi Woods law enforces harsher consequences for people who continue to be caught driving under the influence of alcohol. The Craig J. Todeschini law also calls for stricter penalties against people who try to escape in auto chases from police officers. Both were named after people who lost their lives in auto accidents.
Outside of politics, DeFrancisco’s passion is music. He’s learned to play the saxophone and has been on stage with New York jazz players Mario DeSantis, Stan Colella, and Whiting of Skaneateles. In his room at the State Office Building in Syracuse, his walls are covered with signed autographs and pictures of musicians such as Ray Charles.
DeFrancisco has brought in over $500,000 in grants to schools and festivals, including ArtsWeek, Festa Italiana, and the Central New York Jazz Arts Foundation. The Central New York Jazz Arts Foundation was granted $250,000 to purchase their home in downtown Syracuse.
(Robert Lowrey is a graduate student in broadcast and digital journalism.)
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