By Ashley M. Casey
Staff Writer
Kevin Parker’s path to the North Syracuse Board of Trustees has been a bit like a game of “six degrees.” While his appointment to the board marks Parker’s first foray into politics, he and Mayor Gary Butterfield discovered some serendipitous connections along the way.
“I was casting around trying to find somebody that hasn’t been involved in particular and looking for a fresh face,” Butterfield said of his search for a trustee to fill the seat of the late Fred Fergerson, who passed away in November.
Parker, a Republican, is a district manager for Aramark Uniform Services. Originally from Allegany, New York, Parker and his wife Kelley moved to North Syracuse in 2000. He has held leadership positions in several local Masonic groups and is a past board member of the Onondaga County Masonic Charities Corporation and the New York State Blues Festival. When he’s not giving back to his community through his Masonic activities and participation in local government, he enjoys traveling and jamming on his bass guitar.
Butterfield, a contractor by trade, had built an addition 30 years ago to the home where Parker now lives. Butterfield happened to run into Parker’s brother, a subcontractor, through a construction job.
“Our other brother has been a village trustee and a deputy mayor,” Butterfield recalled Parker’s brother telling him.
Butterfield contacted Parker, who he said “jumped at the chance.”
“It’s another avenue for me to serve the community,” Parker said of being appointed to the village board. “It’s something I’ve always enjoyed. That’s really what it’s about for me,” Parker said.
Butterfield supplied Parker with some information from the New York Conference of Mayors about the ins and outs of being a village trustee.
“He said, ‘Let me think about it,’ and, boom — he said yes,” Butterfield said. “He was willing right away within a day or two of me broaching the subject.”
Parker said he became familiar with the village’s community programs through his involvement with several local Masonic groups.
“Through my Masonic lodge, we support the programs, we’re in the parades. We help out in any way we can,” Parker said.
Butterfield knew that Parker’s predecessor, Fred Fergerson, was also a Mason, but he did not realize that the two ran in the very same circles.
“When [Fred’s wife] Pat Fergerson found out he was going to be a trustee, she was thrilled,” Butterfield said. “She said, ‘I’m glad you found him. He’s a good choice.’”
With only a few village board meetings under his belt since his Jan. 12 swearing-in, Parker is still getting his local government sea legs.
“It’s a learning phase for me so I can see how our government runs here, how we support our community, our citizens of North Syracuse,” he said.
Butterfield noted that he is no longer the lone Republican on the village board, but said, “I wanted the person, not the party.” He said he is hoping Parker will bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to the village.
“You look at our board: there’s lots of life experience, but that doesn’t mean somebody who’s young is not wise as well,” Butterfield said.
Parker’s managerial and leadership experience will serve him well on the board, Butterfield said.
“I’m and outgoing person. I’m not afraid to speak my mind, and I stand up for what’s right,” Parker said of what he brings to the table. “I think those combinations will make me a good representative for my neighbors.”
