Local attorney Greg Scicchitano has announced his candidacy for the DeWitt Supervisor election after being nominated by the DeWitt Republican Committee for the upcoming November election.

“I want to be town of Dewitt Supervisor simply because I think I can offer a unique perspective to the town,” said Scicchitano on July 28 at the Onondaga County Republican Committee headquarters as he announced his candidacy. “Quite honestly I think it’s time, after looking at the way the town has ran in the direction is has been, for somebody new to be supervisor.”

Currently, the DeWitt supervisor position is held by Edward Michalenko, a Democrat, and the remaining six seats on the board are also held by Democrats.

His experience serving at the town attorney in DeWitt from 2004 to 2013 is something Scicchitano said makes him qualified to run for supervisor and adding diversity to the currently all-Democrat board is important in advancing the town.

“The current supervisor has been on the town board for almost 20 years and I think people have to start understanding the position of an elected official should not be a career job,” said Scicchitano. “I don’t think there are proper voices that are being heard and I don’t think there are some perspective being listened to.”

Scicchitano has practiced law for 25 years, after having received his bachelor’s degree at Hartwick College and his law degree at Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware. He currently owns his own firm, which is located on East Genesse Street in Fayetteville, across from Wegmans.

According to Scicchitano’s firm’s website, “His [Scicchitano’s] practice focuses on real estate, real property law, personal injury, civil litigation (plaintiff and defendant representation), municipal law and vehicle and traffic law infractions, including DWI’s.”

Scicchitano served as legal counsel to Senator John A. DeFrancisco from 1997 to 2002. He also ran for County Legislature in 1997 but was not elected.

Other local GOP dignitaries agree with the idea that adding diversity to the DeWitt Town Board is beneficial.

“The town of Dewitt, as many of you know, is controlled by the Democrat Party and we are offering a slate of candidates the year that are going to hopefully challenge and win back some seats,” said Onondaga County Republican Committee Chairman Tom Dadey at the candidacy announcement. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm within the rank and file of Republicans in Dewitt and even the county to put the Dewitt Town Supervisor back in Republican control.”

Scicchitano has been a resident of DeWitt for 18 years and has raised four kids, who attended the Jamesville-DeWitt school district, with his wife Cheri.

Joining Scicchitano this election season for the Republican Committee as town board candidates are Mike Durkin, leasing agent at CBD Companies and board member of JDYAA Lacrosse, and Dan Wagner, a current East Syracuse Village Trustee.

According to current DeWitt Town Clerk Angela Epolio, Michalenko plans to run for reelection in November. As of press time, the DeWitt Democratic Committee has not announced any other candidates for the town board.

Hayleigh Gowans is a reporter for the Eagle Bulletin. She can be reached at [email protected].