James DiBlasi says he enjoys a good challenge.
“I have always been up to big challenges.” [James DiBlasi]
When he first ran for the Onondaga County Legislature in District 7, for example, he was only 36 years old. He ran as a Republican in an area historically represented by Democrats.
“I beat an incumbent Democrat in the city. That’s pretty rare.” [DiBlasi]
Now DiBlasi is facing a challenge from another Democrat, Tom Buckel, for the District 7 seat in the upcoming November election. DiBlasi is seeking re-election to his fifth term.
Outside of politics, DiBlasi says one of his greatest challenges was the Marine Corps. He served four years, including an overseas mission in 1991 to Kuwait as part of Operation Desert Storm.
“It was an interesting experience to say the least.” [DiBlasi]
DiBlasi’s district area covers the North side of Syracuse and the Lyncourt area. County legislator is a part-time position. DiBlasi’s full-time job is as a stockbroker at Merill Lynch. He graduated from SUNY Oswego with a history degree in 1987. DiBlasi and his wife Heather have four kids: Blaise, 11; Margaret, 8; Michael, 6; and Stephen, 3.
DiBlasi says managing a political life, work life and a family is another big challenge.
“I think you just have to be organized and have a clear sense of what you want to do and be pragmatic.” [DiBlasi]
DiBlasi says he has had a clear sense of what he has wanted to do over the years. He worked with other legislators to keep money in the county budget for a program called Operation IMPACT to cut crime. He says protecting the interests of the Salina 29, a group of businesses, affected a lot of people who lived and worked in his district.
Operation IMPACT was established in 2004. Chief William Peverly from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s office says the program was established as a statewide initiative to deal with an increase violent crime. Operation IMPACTS puts 9 sheriff’s deputies on the streets in the city of Syracuse. Peverly praises DiBlasi for working to restore funding for the project in the 2008 budget.
“Jim was instrumental in ensuring that those positions stayed in the budget and so his constituents can continue to be served by Operation IMPACT.” [Peverly]
DiBlasi says working with the sheriff’s office to help keep his constituents in the city safer was the right thing to do.
“A pragmatic, practical solution to a problem.” [DiBlasi]
DiBlasi is also credited with helping a group of businesses called the Salina 29, who were threatened by the controversial expansion of Carousel Mall. The city intended to take the businesses under government’s power of eminent domain. To the Salina 29, that was a land grab. DiBlasi worked with other legislators to protect the businesses. The president of the Salina 29, John Sposato, says DiBlasi was critical in getting legislation passed in the county legislature against eminent domain.
“He was one of the first ones to come out against the use eminent domain, against private enterprise, and he was instrumental in trying to rally other legislators against the developer who was using eminent domain under the mask of economic development.” [Sposato]
In the Onondaga County Legislature, DiBlasi is one of 12 Republicans who have majority control. But he is the only one that represents a district in the city. He says it helps being part of the party of majority because, together, the Republican caucus has the ability to get legislation passed. And he cites helpful relationships with other offices, that are also controlled by other Republicans.
“I have the sheriff’s ear at any time. I have the district attorney’s ear at any time. I have the county executive’s ear at any time.” [DiBlasi]
Democrats are mounting challenges to take some of those offices and it’s unclear that they will stay in Republican hands after the November election. But for now, DiBlasi says the Republican-dominance in county government means he has the ability to do things. But being the only city Republican also means he’s sometimes has to fight his fellow Republicans who represent more rural or suburban areas.
“Being a Republican in the city is a challenge.” [DiBlasi]
Election Day is November 6th.
For Democracywise, I’m Richard Zussman.
James DiBlasi Basics:
Age: 43
Hometown: Syracuse, N.Y.
Occupation: Stockbroker at Merill Lynch.
Family: wife, Heather; four children, Blaise, 11, Margaret, 8, Michael, 6, and Stephen, 3.
Education: B.A. in history from SUNY Oswego, M.B.A. from Syracuse University.
(Richard Zussman is a graduate student in broadcast journalism.)
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