Peter Scalzo has known Bill Magnarelli for about forty years. They are both parishioners at Our Lady of Pompei Catholic Church. Scalzo says he never expected “Billy” to go into politics. But Scalzo says:
“I was very happy when he got to Albany. And, I thought he was a very qualified, capable man.” [Peter Scalzo]
Magnarelli has been in Albany since 1999, as the state Assemblyman for the 120th District. He’s been a veteran politician for 11 years. Before the state Assembly, he was a Syracuse Common Councilor for two years.
And now he is the Democratic candidate for Onondaga County executive.
He is running against Republican Joanie Mahoney. Two other candidates also are on the ballot. Dale Sweetland will be under the Independence and Conservatives parties and Ed Ryan will be under the It’s Your County party. Neither Sweetland nor Ryan is actively campaigning.
Magnarelli did not respond to four requests for an interview made to his campaign manager.
Friends and colleagues paint Magnarelli as a man dedicated to helping his community. His fellow parishioner Peter Scalzo says even though he didn’t expect Magnarelli to go into politics, Scalzo can see why he did.
“I think he’s just a person that tries to help other people and felt that if he got into politics, he probably could do a better job with people of his community and his neighborhood by doing something good for them and trying to get the things they needed.” [Peter Scalzo]
Magnarelli was born and raised in the city of Syracuse. He went to Syracuse University and majored in history. He stayed at S.U. for law school. After graduating in 1973, Magnarelli joined the Army Reserve and served for six years. In 1979, Magnarelli joined Scolaro, Shulman, Cohen, Fetter & Burstein law firm, where he still works. Magnarelli started his political career in 1996 when he was elected to the Syracuse Common Council.
Now, he’s trying to leave the state Assembly in Albany to return to local politics. Magnarelli’s campaign manager Michael Whyland says Magnarelli wants to come back so he can get things done quicker and more efficiently than he could in the state legislature. Whyland says Magnarelli is especially interested in using state money he helped direct back to the Syracuse area.
“I think he’s frustrated at seeing money that he has gotten sit there. And there’s no comprehensive policy or plan to put that money to good use.” [Michael Whyland]
Assemblywoman Joan Millman sits next to Magnarelli during assembly sessions. She says he is focused on Syracuse, even when he is in Albany.
“He doesn’t get up and grandstand about things. He gets up and he talks about issues that are important to him and to the people he represents in Syracuse, and he’s taken very seriously by his colleagues.” [Joan Millman]
Millman and Magnarelli are both members of the Committee on Oversight, Analysis, and Investigation. Magnarelli also serves on the Committee on Education and the Committee on Veterans Affairs. He is also the chair of the Taskforce on University-Industry Cooperation and the Commission on Science and Technology.
If he wins the county executive’s job, Magnarelli has said his goals will include creating a high-powered business development council and finishing the clean-up of Onondaga Lake.
If he loses the race for county executive, Magnarelli will return to his seat in the state Assembly in Albany.
The election is November 6th.
For Democracywise, I’m Tracy Kracker.
(Tracy Kracker is a broadcast journalism graduate student.)
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