It looks like it’ll be a dogfight for the Democratic Party nomination to replace Assemblyman Sam Roberts. Or maybe a catfight.
On May 20 Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that he has nominated Roberts to be the state’s next commissioner of temporary and disability assistance. Roberts’ nomination still needs to be confirmed by the state senate, but it’s likely he’ll be approved, meaning he’ll relinquish his Assembly seat in order to tackle his new position.
So who will become the new assemblyperson in our 128th District?
Stott’s hat in ring
This past weekend, three local Democrats tossed their hats into the ring. Former Onondaga County Legislator Dave Stott, who lives in Liverpool, will pursue the assembly seat, as will two Syracuse city councilors, Jean Kessner and Pamela Hunter.
So far, no Republicans have expressed interest, and no wonder. Democrats enjoy a huge advantage in the oddly configured 128th, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 36,518 to 19,625.
If Roberts resigns before July 2, his seat will be filled at the general election in November. If he leaves after July 2, Cuomo could order a special election, according to Onondaga County Democratic Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny.
Candidates interested in running for the assembly seat would have until July 9 to submit petitions to get on the ballot. If multiple candidates from any party qualify, Czarny said, they would compete in a September primary.
Roberts has already indicated that he will support Kessner.
The 128th Assembly District includes all of the towns of Salina, DeWitt and Onondaga and parts of Syracuse and the Onondaga Nation.
Union background
Roberts’ many years of union experience prompted Cuomo to tap the Syracuse Democrat to oversee temporary and disability assistance in the Empire State.
Now retired from General Motors, Roberts worked there for three decades as a member of the United Auto Workers union. During that time, he also served five terms (1990–2000) as an Onondaga County legislator.
At GM, Roberts was elected recording secretary of UAW Local 465 and chairman of Local 854’s Education and Civil Rights Committees. He’s currently chairman of the Assembly’s Task Force on University-Industry Cooperation.
Field Days in July
American Legion Post 188 is facing an uncertain future as active members are becoming few and far between. Nevertheless, its annual Field Days are scheduled July 24, 25 and 26 in Washington Park. The legion coordinated the village’s annual Memorial Day parade on May 25.
Sinatra fan slugs one
Syracuse Chiefs right-handed hitter Mark Minicozzi slugged his first home run of the season over the right-field wall at NBT Stadium on the afternoon of May 20. That evening he and catcher Dan Butler celebrated the opposite-field dinger with dinner at The Retreat, here in Liverpool.
Minicozzi, who hails from Berwyn, Penn., has the best walk-up music on the team. He comes to bat to the tune of Frank Sinatra’s “Summer Wind.”
In 10 minor league seasons, MM has accumulated 80 home runs and a .288 batting average. For the Chiefs, the 32-year-old plays first base, outfield and designated hitter.
Ward leaving LPL board
Former Liverpool Mayor Marlene Ward has been feeling poorly this spring, so she has decided to resign from the Liverpool Public Library Board of Trustees as of June 30.
Despite nagging health problems, Ward managed to get herself to the annual Village Republican Caucus on April 27, where she nominated Christina Fadden Fitch to run for an open trustee seat on the village board.
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