Cicero Deputy Supervisor Tim Burtis has been selected to replace Jim Corl as the Onondaga County Third District legislator.
Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney announced the appointment Friday, Jan. 16.
“Tim will be a great legislator for the people of Cicero and all of Onondaga County,” Mahoney said in a release. “Serving as deputy supervisor for the town of Cicero has prepared him to hit the ground running, and I look forward to working with Tim as we keep moving Onondaga County forward.”
Burtis was chosen over former Cicero Town Justice Robert Walczyk, current Justice Douglas DeMarche and town board member Michael Becallo. Burtis had the support of the Cicero Republican Committee, who voted Thursday, Jan. 15, to nominate him as their candidate.
“Tim Burtis was the unanimous choice of the committee… to run this fall,” said Jim Corl, Sr., chair of the Cicero Republican Committee. “Tim must have impressed Joanie, as well.”
Burtis replaces Jim Corl, Jr., who stepped down effective Jan. 15 to take a position as Onondaga County Family Court Judge Michael Hanuszczak’s principal court attorney.
Burtis said he was grateful to receive Mahoney’s support.
“I did get the vote from the committee, and I was happy to get their endorsement,” said Burtis, who is employed at Empower Federal Credit Union as director of outside loan sales. “But I was really pretty excited to have the county executive appoint me. It wasn’t a given at all. It was clear the whole time that this was going to be her appointment
He said he chose to pursue the seat so that he could serve a larger population and deal with different matters that affect that population.
“It was a great opportunity for me to deal with larger issues than those I’ve dealt with at the town level,” Burtis said.
Burtis said he’s planning a small ceremony for later this week.
“I’m working on a little inauguration ceremony instead of just standing in front of a judge, because this is a big deal for me and in my life,” he said.
Burtis will have to leave his seat on the Cicero Town Board, creating a vacancy and necessitating the appointment of a new deputy supervisor. No mention has yet been made as to who might replace him.
“It’s been quick,” Burtis said. “This wasn’t really something I planned. I thought Jim would stay a lot of years. But it’s an awesome opportunity to have more responsibility.”
He also intends to run for the position once he completes Corl’s term in November.
“I can’t see any way I wouldn’t run,” he said. “This is something that does interest me. I would like to serve for as long as people will have me.”
