Fadden Fitch takes second stab at state Assembly
Christina Fadden Fitch is running again for state Assembly.
In 2008, Fitch opposed incumbent Joan Christiansen for the Assembly seat in the 119th District that includes part of the city of Syracuse and the towns of Salina, DeWitt and Onondaga. Christiansen, a Democrat, refused to debate Fitch, a Republican, who went on to lose by a wide margin.
In January, Christiansen announced that she would not seek re-election in November. The former Syracuse Common Councilor was first elected to the Assembly in 1990.
Now that the 119th Assembly race is wide open, the Republican Party voted June 1 to abandon Fitch, its 2008 torch-bearer, in favor of good ol’ boy John Sharon, a senior assistant county attorney.
Taking a cue from Joanie Mahnoey, who overcame rejection by those same GOP good ol’ boys to become county executive in 2007, Fitch welcomes the chance to face Sharon in the Sept. 15 primary.
Mahoney paved the way
Three years ago Mahoney beat both her Republican primary opponent, Dale Sweetland, and a Democratic candidate, Bill Magnarelli, to win Onondaga County’s top office. She squeaked by Sweetland in the GOP primary by a mere 21 votes before burying Magnarelli in November by more than 25,000 votes.
Fitch envisions a similar scenario in the 119th District campaign this year, although her eventual Democratic opposition may prove more difficult to overcome. Democrats running to replace Christiansen include the well-financed Syracuse City Auditor Phil LaTessa, Jane Fahey-Suddaby, assistant superintendent for instructional support service at Oswego County BOCES, and Sam Roberts, superintendent of the Hughes State Office Building.
DeWitt attorney Michael Donnelly will also run for the 119th seat on the Green Party line.
And regardless of the outcome of the GOP primary, both Fitch and Sharon will remain on the November ballot.
Fitch has been endorsed by the Conservative Party. Sharon has been endorsed by the Independence Party.
For the past year, Fitch has been a member of the Liverpool Village Zoning Board of Appeals. A graduate of Liverpool High School and Eastman School of Music, Fitch is the former legislative director for the New York State Right to Life Committee.
Her top concern is proliferating property taxes.
The daughter of the late Gloria and Henry Fadden, Fitch lives in Liverpool on Hiawatha Trail with her 15-year-old daughter, Shannon, and their dog, Nicky.
Drowning victim mourned
The staff at Nichols Supermarket is grieving the sudden death of young Ben Hodgson on July 7.
The 25-year-old North Syracuse man accidentally drowned that Wednesday at Beaver Lake near Baldwinsville. He had worked for Nichols’ meat department.
“It’s just awful,” said Mike Hennigan Jr., one of Nichols’ assistant managers. “Ben’s been with us for about eight years, ever since he graduated from high school.”
Co-worker Tammy Burrows fondly recalled Hodgson. “I worked with Ben at Nichols and I found him to be the kindest, gentlest, sweetest person I’ve had the pleasure of knowing in a long time,” Burrows said.
Ben was the son of Tim and Frances (Reuter) Hodgson.
Bluegrass and Bavarian fests
Two fun festivals celebrate their 38th anniversaries this Sunday, Aug. 1.
The Bluegrass Ramble Picnic runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday at Little York Lake, in Preble. Admission and parking are free. The picnic’s 18 bluegrass acts include Diamond Someday, featuring Liverpool’s own Shirley Stevens and Dick DeNeve.
The picnic’s hosted by Meyers Road resident Bill Knowlton whose Bluegrass Ramble radio show, airs from 9 p.m. to midnight on Sundays, over WCNY-FM 91.3.
Meanwhile, over at Long Branch Park, the 38th annual Bavarian Fest takes place from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1. It’s also free.
The fest features German food and beer including Spaten and Franziskaner, plus live music by Die Lustigen Almdudler, one of the most authentic Bavarian bands in the Northeast.
