The federal primary is June 28. Three people are running for the chance to be the Democratic Party candidate for the Democratic Party candidate for the 24th District Congressional seat against Republican John Katko in November. Colleen Deacon has received the official nomination from the Democratic Party, while Eric Kingson and Steve Williams are challenging her for the ticket. As New York is a closed primary state, only members of the Democratic Party can vote. Polls are open from noon to 9 p.m. To find out your polling place, check ongov.net/elections or call 435-VOTE.
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Colleen Deacon
Why are you the best candidate to represent the Democratic Party in the 24th District?
I’m running because I have seen firsthand how the issues in front of Congress affect real people’s lives, and I want to be a real voice for the hardworking people of this district. I think I have a great amount of experience here in the region, working most recently with Senator Gillibrand and previously Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll, working directly on the issues that matter to us most. I’ve helped connect veterans to job opportunities, helped small businesses cut through red tape to retain and create jobs here in the district and I’ve helped seniors avoid financial scams and financial fraud. I was born and raised here in Syracuse, and I graduated from Syracuse University. After I graduated from college, I was waiting tables for a living, and my job didn’t come with health care or sick time. So when I became pregnant with my son, Adrian, I was forced to rely on Medicaid. I had to quit my job a few days before he was born and go on food stamps and WIC to keep us healthy. It was shortly after that that I began my career in public service. I don’t think my story and my experience of when I had my son is a unique story or a unique experience, but it’s a perspective that is not represented in Congress. I know what it’s like for the many families struggling across this district. I want to bring my experience, my perspective and my ideas to Congress to be a real voice for the people of Central New York.
How are you different from your opponents? What sets you apart?
First and foremost, I have experience working hard for the people of this district. I have helped bring federal dollars back to the region for the craft food and beverage industry, a growing sector, to expand business opportunities and create new jobs. I fought against unfair trade deals to protect a local steel manufacturer and help them to retain jobs in the district, and I have brought federal grants back to this region for infrastructure improvements. I know the issues we face here in this region, but I also know how to get things done, and I know the potential that we have. In addition, as a single mom, I think my personal story and my personal perspective is a perspective we need in Congress, and one that is not adequately represented. I know what it is like to struggle, to live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to keep food on the table. What we have right now in Washington is not working — we do not need more of the same. I want to go to Congress to bring the common sense voice of a single mom to Congress and be a real voice for the people who need it most.
What do you think are the biggest issues facing the 24th District?
Jobs and the economy is the number one issue we face in the district and the issue I hear about most from the community. For the past 30 years we have seen manufacturing jobs leave this district. We must do more to retain and create jobs here in Central New York. We need to connect our colleges and universities directly to employers, to set up apprenticeship and in-house internship programs and put people directly to work.
Infrastructure is another huge issue in Central New York. Our roads, bridges, water and sewer pipes are crumbling, and the time to act is now. In the 24th District alone there are 302 structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges. We need to be proactive, not reactive. By updating our infrastructure we will be able to attract new jobs and industries to the region. Further, we will be able to put people directly to work in the process of doing so.
Given the split between “progressive” and “establishment” Democrats, how will you unite local party members?
What we have in Washington right now is not working. I’m running because I have seen firsthand how the issues in front of Congress affect real people, and I want to bring that perspective to Congress to be a real voice for the people of Central New York. I’ve heard a few times on this campaign trail that I don’t look like a typical Congressman — well, I hope not! We don’t need more of the same. I have the experience and the connections to get things done in this district. I know what our issues are at the local and federal level, and have experience rolling up my sleeves and working hard for the people of this region. I have the experience necessary, but also a perspective that is underrepresented in Congress, and I want to bring both the experience and my perspective to Washington to be a different, and better, representative for the people of Central New York.
Why are you a better representative for the area than John Katko?
With manufacturing jobs leaving the state consistently over the past few decades, we need to figure out how to bring good paying jobs to the region and keep them here. John Katko has done nothing meaningful to address this issue. Here in Syracuse more than 50 percent of children are born into poverty, and with the Fitzpatrick nuclear plant closing up in Oswego, another 600 high-paying jobs are leaving the district — and this is becoming the norm. We hear a lot of rhetoric from Katko about fighting poverty here in Central New York, but we haven’t seen any action. We need to raise the minimum wage and we need to do it now. We need to provide paid family leave and better access to childcare so low income parents can actually afford to go to work. We need to work with our business community to create onsite apprenticeship and internship programs that provide training and put people directly to work. These are tangible things that we can do now to make real change, and these are the issues I want to work on once elected to Congress. Paul Ryan and his Republican Congress continue to take this country in the wrong direction, and John Katko is part of that problem.
What will you do to create jobs and boost the CNY economy?
There is a lot that we can do to encourage job growth here in CNY. We can look at more tax credits for businesses that provide training and in-house apprenticeship programs when hiring employees. I want us to work together at the local, state and federal level to connect our community colleges, not just to apprenticeship programs and job training services, but directly with employers to set up programs that put people directly to work here in the district. We also need to look at our tax codes and ensure that we are making doing business here as easy as possible for our business owners. We also need to focus on fixing our infrastructure and investing in education. Our roads and bridges are crumbling, and strong infrastructure will not only encourage businesses to move here, but create jobs in the meantime while fixing these problems. As a mother and the vice president of my son Adrian’s PTO I also know how important a strong education system is to attracting jobs to any region. We must train our students to be competitive in the growing global economy, and ensure they are ready to fill the jobs that we bring to the region. One way that we can further focus our students is encouraging more emphasis on STEM education. Many of the fastest growing jobs require expertise in the areas of math and science. Here in Central New York there is a strong focus on eds and meds, and high tech manufacturing is beginning to take over as well. We can and should be training our students for these high paying jobs, and further encourage industry growth here in the region.
What endorsements have you received? Do you think those endorsements will impact the race? How do you think those endorsements reflect your personal politics?
I’m proud to have received the endorsements of U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, EMILY’s List, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, New York Assembly Members Bill Magnarelli and Pamela Hunter, the Onondaga County Democratic Committee, a joint committee of the Cayuga, Oswego and Wayne County Democratic Committees, the National Organization for Women (NOW) and Oswego County Chair Mike Kunzwiler.
I’m proud to have so much support from the community and think it is further proof of the strength of my campaign. These endorsement are not just names on a paper — they are people that have seen the work that I have done in this district and know that I am the best choice to represent the people of Central New York. I’m honored to have their backing and look forward to continuing the important work of serving the people of the 24th District in Washington.
Where do you stand on paid family leave? Equal pay for women? The student loan crisis? Health care reform? Campaign finance reform?
Paid family leave: I am a strong supporter of comprehensive paid family leave. As someone who has experienced myself the need for a paid family leave system, I want to go to Congress and be a champion for this issue. I think Senator Gillibrand’s plan, the FAMILY Act, is a common sense, business-friendly solution that will provide paid family leave to all workers across this country.
Equal pay for women: When I was young my father lost his job and my mother had to go back to work full time to support the family. As a single mother myself, I know first hand the importance of equal pay for women, and it is beyond time that we do everything possible to ensure equal pay across the board.
Student loan crisis: I just paid off my student loans last year, after 15 years of hard work and payments. I know how burdensome student loan debt can be for students graduating college, and we must do more to make affordable college a reality for our children. We can and must reduce interest rates on loans, and allow those who have graduated with student loans to renegotiate their interest rates when they have the opportunity. Further, we need to reduce interest rates for parents taking out loans for their children. The rates on these loans are higher than rates on a mortgage or a car, and that just doesn’t make any sense. The cost of college has quadrupled since I graduated college, and the path we are on is unsustainable.
Health care reform: I support the Affordable Care Act and will go to Congress and defend this important legislation at every turn. We need to continue to fight to deliver affordable healthcare to all Americans, and this legislation was a big step in the right direction. Republicans in Congress have already voted over 60 times to repeal all or part of the Affordable Care Act, even though over 19 million more Americans have health insurance because of this legislation. This is just wrong.
Campaign finance reform: I fully support campaign finance reform, and would support a constitutional amendment repealing the Citizens United ruling. We must get dark money out of politics and focus on the issues that matter most to the people of this country.
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Eric Kingson
Why are you the best candidate to represent the Democratic Party in the 24th District?
I have a solid record of success in Washington. Having worked with major national organizations, members of Congress, legislative staff, policy experts, advocates and citizen organizations to advance policies that promote and protect economic security for the American people, I know what needs to be done and how to do it. That’s why, Senator Bernie Sanders endorsed my candidacy saying:
“I’ve worked with Eric for years to help stop cuts to Social Security, and our efforts paid off this week when President Obama actually spoke out for expanding Social Security. Eric should continue this progress in Congress.”
That’s also why Karen Higgins, RN, co-president of National Nurses United, the nation’s largest nurses union, commented that it is:
“… proud to endorse Eric Kingson for Congress because he has demonstrated his leadership and ability to make change defending Social Security from devastating cuts while also working to expand it. Eric shares our conviction that health care is a human right, and that a Medicare for All system is the most effective and efficient way to provide high quality health-care to everyone… Eric shares nurses’ opposition to disastrous free trade deals and our dedication to addressing climate change, both of which threaten public health.”
Our neighbors in Central New York are tired of “business as usual” as represented by Congressman John Katko’s flip flops on reproductive rights, his willingness to support cutting and privatizing Social Security and Medicare, his opposition to banning assault rifles, his reliance on corporate PAC money (over $700,000) and most egregiously his failure to lead by stepping out front months ago to announce that say that he will not accept a racist, mean-spirited and vulgar Donald Trump as the standard-bearer of the Republican Party, that Trump has transgressed the boundaries of decency and stands outside the democratic values of our nation.
Central New York voters are also tired of letting Washington insiders pick who they should vote for. Nothing necessarily wrong with someone having good political connections with establishment sponsors and some experience as an aid to two politicians, but this should not serve as substitute for depth of experience and substantive knowledge. Nothing wrong with being a lawyer with vague policy positions from a for-profit firm, but the House of Representatives already has many of these and the results are not all that great.
I believe the public will be best served by a strong fighter who has broad experience, is clear about the positions he or she will take, and who has proven capacity to bring about changes on behalf of Central New Yorkers. I have a broad range of experiences to bring to bear on behalf of our district, including involvement in the Civil Rights movement, community development and social service during the 1960s and 1970s; teaching public policy courses at Syracuse University’s School of Social Work; conducting policy research on employment, retirement and family care; and serving as staff to two presidential commissions and on the advisory committee to then-President-elect Barack Obama’s Social Security Administration’s transition team.
My life’s work is dedicated to working towards an America in which everyone, from early childhood to advanced old age, is treated with dignity and respect; an America with an economy and politics that work for everyday Americans, not primarily for multi-millionaires, billionaires and powerful corporations. My core belief in government tracks closely to the views expressed by Frances Perkins, the first woman who served as a cabinet member. She’s been called, “The Woman Behind the New Deal” because of the critical role she played in shaping the Social Security Act, Wagner Act and many many other labor laws. The people are what matter to government, and a government should aim to give all the people under its jurisdiction the best possible life.”
How are you different from your opponents? What sets you apart?
I am the only candidate that has pledged to not take money from corporate PACs, the only one who supports a single-payer “Medicare for All” health care system, the only one who has been endorsed by a presidential candidate. I am the only one who has offered specific ways of paying for various policy proposals such as free college education, very large investment in infrastructure and sustainable green energy, significant investment in strengthening the district by making large investments to dramatically reduce poverty and the like. For example, I am on record as supporting a financial transaction tax on Wall Street stock, bond a derivative trades; on record supporting a roughly 5 percent increase in marginal tax rates on annual income in excess of $1,000,000 ranging up to a 10 percent increase on annual income in excess of $1,000,000,000.
Another distinction… Some candidates say they want to “protect Social Security;” they want to work on economic security for Central New York. This is good and I applaud them, but I am the only candidate in this race who has actually done so.
As the co-founder of Social Security Works and the Strengthen Social Security coalition, I had a direct hand in preventing cuts to Social Security. I helped to form and lead a coalition of 300 organizations — labor, veteran’s, women’s, civil rights, and similar groups — to stop cuts to the program back in 2010-11 when it looked like they were going to happen. Without our work benefits would have been cut for 152,000 people in our congressional district and everyone else in the nation who receives these earned benefits.
We then pushed the expansion agenda, which Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, President Obama and the large majority of House and Senate Democrats have signed onto in various ways. This experience — building coalitions on a national level, making real change — will serve our district well if elected to Congress. I want to use my experiences and skills to fight for our families in CNY.
What do you think are the biggest issues facing the 24th District?
Jobs, economic inequality, poverty and global warming. We need to plan ahead for the economic opportunities that will be engines of growth in the future, such as green energy.
We have an extremely high rate of poverty here in our district, especially for minorities. Thirty-nine percent of African Americans live below the poverty line. That is 9,567 children. In the city of Syracuse, we have the worst concentration of poverty in the nation: the largest inhibitor of opportunity. We need to rapidly expand social services as well as job opportunities.
There are a few things we can do to help, in addition to the jobs program I detailed here. We can guarantee quality health care as a human right. We can provide wrap-around services in our schools — mental health, physical health, dental, social work, legal, etc.
We also need to address the crises of “mass incarceration,” failure of mental health care and homelessness. Additionally, people in their 40s and 50s are heading towards very bleak retirement years, a concern that will be increasingly apparent as years pass.
Given the split between “progressive” and “establishment” Democrats, how will you unite local party members?
I think I appeal across a broad spectrum. First off, with the “progressive” group, I have been endorsed by Bernie Sanders. I think that will prove to be a great strength in drawing out people who otherwise may not have voted. In addition, my work on Social Security, and the experience that I have, I believe will draw strength from more “establishment” Democrats. Social Security is a bread and butter Democratic party issue, and some of my best volunteers actually supported Secretary Clinton in the Presidential primary, something I expect to do if, as it seems very likely, she receives the Democratic nomination.
Why are you a better representative for the area than John Katko?
I believe John Katko is hugely influenced by the massive amount of money that he takes from corporate PACs. This is shown in a few things. For example, he tries to appeal moderate by introducing a paid family leave program that is really just telling young people to save discretionary income that they do not have, due to massive amounts of college debt and falling wages. Another example of him pretending to be moderate is his supposed opposition to the TPP, until the time when Speaker Boehner really needed his vote, and then he was there for him.
I will truly work for the people on New York, unencumbered by corporate influence, on the issues that really affect them.
(Note: Other aspects of this question are addressed in answer to first question which discusses Rep. Katko’s failure to renounce Donald Trump.)
What will you do to create jobs and boost the CNY economy?
A few things, the first of which is reject poor trade deals which benefit large corporations and hurt common people, taking away jobs from our district. We can also pour massive infrastructure investments in to improve our quality of life and provide quality jobs. This will be particularly important in our district as I-81 approaches the end of useful lifespan, and needs to be torn down. We must use this opportunity to make Syracuse more livable while providing quality jobs to the people who live here.
Over the next 20 years, I believe CNY has the potential to add a lot of jobs and a huge boost to our economy through creating green jobs and by creating opportunities for collaboration and research across many sectors (higher education, medical, corporate). We are going to need to transition our energy sources away from fossil fuels as soon as possible. With our natural resources and strong research Universities, we would benefit greatly from being leaders in the green innovation economy.
Furthermore, I support jobs programs, especially for youths, similar to the Civil Conservation Corps from the New Deal. We can be closing tax loopholes, raising rates on millionaires and billionaires to ensure they pay their fair share, and taking similar measures that will raise revenues to fund these jobs projects.
What endorsements have you received? Do you think those endorsements will impact the race? How do you think those endorsements reflect your personal politics?
I have received endorsements from: Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Raul Grijalva, Rep. John Conyers, Democracy for America, Progressive Democrats for America, National Nurses United, BlueAmerica and Citizen Action of New York. This diverse group of endorsements will draw me great strength from a wide range of people, from progressive to more moderate voters.
In addition, I believe that these endorsements show that people I have worked with before know I am an effective advocate for causes that affect working people and want to see me in Congress. I have worked with almost all of these esteemed officials and organizations in the past on Social Security, and they clearly respect my abilities. This is what I take the most pride in: those that know me know I have integrity and support me moving forwards. For example, John Conyers, longtime civil rights activist and the longest serving member in the House of Representatives endorsed me, saying:
“Eric Kingson is a trusted ally of the American people. From his early work in civil rights to his later work in addressing economic insecurities, he has consistently been fighting the right battles. My past experience working with Eric to help stop cuts to Social Security proves to me that he has both great policy knowledge and a keen sense of how to actually make change. I believe he will be an effective legislator and I would be thrilled if he joined me in the House of Representatives. I am excited to say I officially endorse his candidacy for Congress in New York’s 24th district.”
Where do you stand on paid family leave? Equal pay for women? The student loan crisis? Health care reform? Campaign finance reform?
Paid family leave: I have worked for many years on issues of caregiving and its cost to those who give it (most often women) We must enact this now. I think it is shameful that we are one of three countries in the world without paid family leave at birth or adoption of a child — the other two being Suriname and Papua New Guinea. We should enact a federal paid family/medical leave program of at least 12 weeks. It’s a good investment in our families and the future.
Equal pay for women: I am firmly for legislation and regulatory action to assure equal pay for women.
Student loan crisis: We must address student loans seriously and urgently. First, we must make tuition at public universities free. We must also put in provisions so that those who are currently in student debt can renegotiate their loans, banks and the federal government. The amount of money that banks and the federal government makes on the backs of students is ridiculous. In addition, we must put in bankruptcy protection for student loans so that people are not saddled with them for the rest of their lives.
Health care reform: I support moving towards a single-payer healthcare system. To get to a national single payer, Medicare-for all system, I think we first set up a public option so that people can purchase health insurance from non-profit entities set up by the government, while simultaneously providing resources for states to set up single-payer systems. We also must rein in the pharmaceutical industry, by allowing the federal government to negotiate prices for Medicare beneficiaries and by allowing the importation of drugs from Canada, where prices are much lower.
Campaign finance reform: We need massive campaign finance reform. I support a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, which will help to get rid of a lot of the dark money in our system. In addition, we must move towards public financing of campaigns, with cable companies required to give airtime to all candidates, matching of small dollar donations, shortening of the length of campaigns and making federal elections a national holiday.
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Steve Williams
Why are you the best candidate to represent the Democratic party in the 24th District?
I have spent my life taking on tough fights, and winning. Now, I want to fight for the people of Central New York. As a lieutenant commander in the Navy, I prosecuted sexual predators, drug dealers and perpetrators of domestic violence. As an attorney in Syracuse, I’ve taken on corporations that cheated their workers out of overtime, and helped union workers recover millions in pension funds that were lost in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme. I’ve had the opportunity to help a lot of good people, and now I’m hoping to work for all Central New Yorkers.
How are you different from your opponents? What sets you apart?
My experience and resume set me apart. I am the only candidate in this race, Democrat or Republican, with military experience. I am the only candidate, Democrat or Republican, with small business experience, which is important in a time when many of our largest employers are gone and small businesses are the foundation of our economy. As I mentioned in the previous answer, I have experience taking on tough fights. This district needs an advocate, and I believe I am best equipped to be that representative.
What do you think are the biggest issues facing the 24th District?
The biggest single issue facing the 24th District is the lack of good-paying jobs. Since 1979, Onondaga County alone has lost 33,000 good paying manufacturing jobs. People are being forced to raise families on minimum wage, without benefits like health care or retirement plans. We need to bring good-paying jobs back to this district.
Given the split between “progressive” and “establishment” Democrats, how will you unite local party members?
Much has been made about the split between “progressive” and “establishment” Democrats, but I haven’t really seen it play on out a local level. Over the course of this campaign, I have spoken with people across this district, and they want the same things. No matter what wing of the party they identify with, they’re looking for a representative who will work hard to create good jobs, who will make this district a safe place to live and raise a family, and who will leave a better world for our grandchildren and the people we leave behind.
Why are you a better representative for the area than John Katko?
John Katko is simply wrong on the issues that matter to the people of this district. Looking at his record, he has done nothing to bring jobs to this area, or to improve the infrastructure people rely on every day. He doesn’t believe in man-made climate change, and won’t take the steps we need to protect the world we live on. He went back on promises he made in his last election. He promised the people of this district that he would not vote to defund Planned Parenthood, and then did that very thing four times. That’s not the kind of representative this district needs. I will be a strong advocate for this district, and work to create jobs, protect our environment, and of course fund Planned Parenthood and stand up for women’s rights.
What will you do to create jobs and boost the CNY economy?
Job creation is my number one priority, and my first commercial focused on this very thing. The first thing we can do to create jobs is to stop foreign trade deals that send our jobs overseas. I am against the Trans-Pacific Pipeline and any bill that hurts American workers. We need to invest in high-tech research, to bring the next generation of jobs here to Central New York. This means things like robotics and solar energy, which are growing fields and should be growing here. We also need to connect our colleges and universities to our local employers. There are unfilled jobs right now because there is no one qualified to fill them. If students knew what classes they needed to take to get those jobs, it would help both the job seeker and the employer.
What endorsements have you received? Do you think those endorsements will impact the race? How do you think those endorsements reflect your personal politics?
I have received endorsements from Congressman Steve Israel, OPEIU, and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. While I appreciate the support, this race isn’t about endorsements. This race is about the people of this district, and who will best represent them in Congress. I am running a bottom-up campaign. I have volunteers out there every day, and they have knocked thousands of doors and talked to thousands of voters. That is what will matter in this election.
Where do you stand on paid family leave? Equal pay for women? The student loan crisis? Health care reform? Campaign finance reform?
Paid family leave: I support paid family leave and the FAMILY Act.
Equal pay for women: The status quo is unacceptable; I strongly believe women deserve equal pay. I support equal pay and the Paycheck Fairness Act, which makes it easier for women to get what they deserve.
Student loans crisis: Right now you can buy a house or a car at a lower interest rate than you can get an education. That’s unfair, and I would strongly support giving students the ability to refinance at lower rates.
Health care reform: As a small business owner and someone who has to deal with the intricacies of the Affordable Care Act, I recognize that it is imperfect. That being said, I am a strong supporter of the ACA, and believe we should work to strengthen it and bring healthcare to our citizens.
Campaign finance reform: Our system is broken. The Citizens United decision allowed corporations to have unprecedented influence in our elections, and that is wrong. Corporations are not people. I strongly support reversing the Citizens United decision by any means necessary, including a constitutional amendment.
