Below are bios and/or messages to voters submitted by area candidates.
In addition to these candidates:
• Linda Ervin (Democratic, Working Families Party), incumbent, is running unopposed for legislator in the 17th district
• David Gideon (Republican, Conservative, Independence), incumbent, is running unopposed for DeWitt Town Justice
• Salvatore Pavone (Republican, Conservative, Independence), incumbent, is running unopposed for Manlius Town Justice
• Rocco Conte (Republican, Conservative, Independence), incumbent, is running unopposed for DeWitt Highway Superintendent
• Robert Cushing (Republican, Conservative, Independence), incumbent, is running unopposed for Manlius Highway Superintendent
Onondaga County Legislature: 7th District (Vote For 1)
Daniel Carroll
Conservative
We all need a start. As much as has been going on in the political arena, the real truth has not been seen until now. Can we handle the truth? Only if you get involved. How do we do that? Start at the voting booth. That’s what I did and the results are astounding. Most importantly we need to vote from CONTEXT and stay within that context by all means. Relay what you’re seeing to another person simply being human. Understand they have their own context. A diamond has many facets and we have as many contexts as such a beautiful gem. Unless you are seeing that from another person’s view, being, experience and intention then you are trying to take that facet from them for your own. The United States of America has many procedures and freedoms in place. Many people and programs, businesses and corporations, ideals and educational institutes, ethnicities and traditions, beliefs and religions have come here to share in these systems set up by the founding fathers. One being the right to vote as a citizen of this country. As all of the aforementioned segments of this country have responsibility to conform to these statutes, if indeed they don’t agree, they can change it at the voting booth only.
So get out and share the facet of your life with another human just being a part of this democracy or whatever you may see it as, tell them how it appears to you. Hold it up to the light and explain what you experience. They may not see it at first but the impact you make in a good way may help them to view their facet in a new and different manner from their CONTEXT.
You are that CONTEXT and you alone are responsible for it. It’s been handed to you in life from the day you were cast into this soup of diversity and how you understood that diversity as it was presented in the way it was. Your responsibility is now that you are of the age to change those early formidable years to fit the new understanding of the facets of your life.
Courtney Hills
Republican, Libertarian, Independence
Courtney M. Hills (I- East Syracuse) is seeking a seat on the Onondaga County Legislature to represent the 7th legislative district. If elected, she would become the first Independence Party member on the County Legislature. She is also endorsed by the Republican, Libertarian, and Onondaga County Veterans Parties, as well as the Teamsters Local 317, and UA Local 267 Steamfitters & Plumbers.
Courtney is the President of the Law Offices of Courtney M. Hills, P.C in East Syracuse. She concentrates her practice in the representation of village/town legislative, planning, and zoning boards, as well as real estate transactions.
After earning three degrees from Syracuse University Courtney settled in the Village of East Syracuse. She maintains an active profile in the local community, supporting several local not-for-profit organizations that raise funds in support of research, education and awareness for ovarian and breast cancer, and has previously served on the Board of Directors for Home Headquarters, an organization whose mission is to create housing opportunities for individuals and families and to improve communities in Central and Upstate New York. When not working or volunteering, Courtney makes time to appreciate some simple pleasures, including spending time with friends, family, and her beloved dogs Thomas and Coco.
As a municipal attorney, Courtney works with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to make communities across CNY a better place to live. She hopes to use her bipartisan leadership and dedication to our community to create a community that is united.
Mary Kuhn
Democratic, Working Families Party
My name is Mary Kuhn and I am running for County Legislature in District 7 on both the Democrat and Working Family ballot lines. I am married and the mother of 2 adult sons. My career was as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) working primarily in the public sector and retiring as the Director of the Onondaga County Child and Adolescent Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. I was an adjunct professor of Social Work at Syracuse University where in addition to teaching graduate students, I was involved in a five-year National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) research grant, focused on outcomes related to community supports for parents of severely mentally ill children. I was also a small business owner, having had a clinical practice located in downtown Syracuse for 20 years where, in addition to private clients, I provided pro bono services, through Vera House, to women and children impacted by domestic violence.
Some of my post-retirement work has focused on the injustices of our immigration system. I am a member of the CNY Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition, and a supporter of the Workers’ Center of CNY and the Eastern Farmworkers. My strong belief in a participatory democracy led me to be the co-founder of Onondaga Votes!, a nonpartisan group focused on voter registration and civic engagement. I am also a member of the League of Women Voters and a board member of ArtRage, a gallery which exhibits art supporting social justice and encouraging social change.
My increasing involvement in the political process over the past few years has led to my decision to enter the race to represent the citizens of the 7th District of Onondaga County.
Having been a County employee for the majority of my professional career, I have a broad knowledge of County services and the issues that face families in this County. As a Social Worker, my job was to be a good listener and to engage others in effective problem solving. I believe these are skills that fit well with the work of a County Legislator.
Onondaga County Legislature, 10th District (Vote For 1)
Kevin Holmquist
Republican, Conservative, Independence
• Republican
• Endorsed by: Republican, Conservative, Independence, Veterans Parties. CSEA, Onondaga County’s largest Labor Union
• Onondaga County’s only elected official that has been elected at the Village, Town and County levels of Government
• Manlius Village Trustee 1991-2000
• Manlius Town Councilman 2001-2005
• Onondaga County Legislator 2005-present
• Member, Cornell Cooperative Extension Executive Board
• Chair, Onondaga County Shared Services Committee
• Chair, Manlius Consolidation and Cooperation Task Force
• Chair, Manlius Trash and Brush District Advisory Committee
• Past Member, Stop DWI task force
• Past Member, Onondaga County deferred compensation committee
• Past Member, Onondaga County Criminal Justice Advisory task force
• Member, Manlius Lions Club
• Graduate, Fayetteville Manlius High School
• Graduate, Onondaga Community College, Business Administration degree
• Graduate, Syracuse University, Political Science degree
• Manager, Key Bank Manlius Branch
• Married to Yvonne Holmquist
• 5 Step Kids: Elizabeth, Rebecca, Michael, Kaitlyn and Elijah
• 1 Grandson: Aidan
I have a record of accomplishment and a vision for the future. My experience and relationships in the community make the difference. I represent everybody regardless of party.
I supported cutting our County tax rate to an all time low. I supported a critical new $1.5M investment in early childhood to promote readiness. I voted to make Onondaga County a Climate Smart Community. I strongly support our Save the Rain program and our world class recycling program. I sponsored the Village Improvement Program, which invests millions more in our Villages. I supported the County consolidation of our Meadowbrook Limestone Sewer area which takes all of the liability off of our Town of Manlius and Villages of Fayetteville and Manlius. I support our PIE strategy which addresses Poverty, Infrastructure and Economic Development. We are moving Onondaga County forward!
Mark Matt
Democratic, Working Families Party
Mark Matt grew up in CNY. Both of his parents were veterans. Mark holds a BS in Economics and an MS in Higher Education Administration from SUNY Brockport. He completed additional accounting courses at Le Moyne College. Mark and Cheryl, his wife of 44 years, have lived in the village of Fayetteville for almost 30 years. They have two children who graduated from FM schools, and seven grandchildren. Mark capped his career as the sales manager of a software company.
For 30 years, Mark has been a member of the CNY Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, where he serves as their treasurer. The chapter works for the sustainable use of CNY’s natural resources. Mark has also volunteered with Rotary for 25 years. He is currently a member of the DeWitt Rotary Club, which serves the eastern suburbs. Mark is the Foundation Chair for DeWitt Rotary and also for Rotary District 7150 which encompassed 42 CNY Rotary clubs. He volunteers with the Samaritan Center, Salvation Army, Red Cross and others. Mark coached youth soccer in the FM area.
After a lifetime commitment to community service, Mark Matt is ready to serve as your Onondaga County Legislator. It’s another way to expand that service. Mark will bring integrity, transparency and accountability to the position. He brings years of experience to the position and believes that the residents of the Town of Manlius deserve a voice in County government.
Mark is running for Onondaga County Legislator District 10. He is endorsed by the Democratic Party and the Working Families Party. He has also been endorsed by the Greater Syracuse Labor Council, IBEW Local Union 43, CWA Local 1123, UAW CAP Region 9, Teamsters Local 317, Uplift Syracuse, Town of Manlius Democrats, and Onondaga County Democratic Committee.
Onondaga County Legislature, 11th District (Vote For 1)
John McBride
Republican, Conservative, Libertarian, Independence
John is the Chairman of the Planning and Economic Development Committee as well as a member of Public Safety and Facilities Committees.
John has spent his entire professional career working in the areas of finance and business development most notably at JP Morgan Chase. His public sector experience includes the position of District Director for NYS Senator John A. DeFrancisco and currently working for NYS Senator Robert E. Antonacci. John holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.
John has spent the majority of his professional career in the private sector working in the areas of finance and business development. John was born and raised in Syracuse and has lived in the Town of Onondaga for nearly 20 years with his wife Linda and daughter Bailey, who is a proud Westhill High School graduate. John is honored to have been endorsed by the Republican, Conservative, Independence, Libertarian and Veterans Parties.
John is very proud to represent Onondaga and Camillus in the Onondaga County Legislature. Throughout the last two years he has done his best to listen to everyone’s concerns and fight for lower taxes and less regulation.
As Chairman of the Planning and Economic Development Committee, he and the team used their resources wisely to maximize the benefit to the community and attract more jobs and opportunity to Onondaga County. It is John’s mission to keep taxes low, reserves high and foster a friendly business environment to attract jobs to our area.
Irene Workman
Democratic, Working Families Party
My name is Irene Workman and I have worked in the service of others throughout my life. I started by working as a nurse before serving our country in the US Navy, Following this service, I have worked in our community as an addiction therapist and school social worker. eventually leading to volunteering as a Disaster Mental Health Specialist at Ground Zero after the attacks of 9/11. I have also volunteered for New Justice Mediation Services, the NY State Justice Department on the Surrogate Decision Making Committee and at Clearpath for Veterans in the Dogs2Vets program. I’m now ready to continue my service as our county legislator. My journey to this point means that special people helped me along the way. One was my government teacher, Doris McDaniel. She became a mentor and friend and gave me something I really hadn’t had before. She told me I was smarter than I thought I was and could go farther in life than most people expected me to. That I could overcome the poverty that I was born in to. She helped me develop self-confidence. She and I lost contact after she took a job elsewhere, but I was thrilled when we managed to locate each other through social media about 3 decades later and I was able to tell her how integral she was to my success. I visit her in in another state regularly. She was the one I consulted when I thought about running for the legislature and the first to donate to my campaign.
DeWitt Town Supervisor (Vote For 1)
Ed Michalenko (incumbent)
Democratic, Working Families Party
Edward M. Michalenko, Ph.D., Onondaga Environmental Institute President, manages multidisciplinary research, education, planning, and restoration projects for government and business. His applied research has led to a number of innovative remedial strategies for Onondaga Lake. Ed is a 2008 and 2012 recipient of USEPA’s Environmental Quality Award. Ed has taught high school and college and has co-authored five books and over 40 technical publications on fate and effects of chemicals in the environment.
As Supervisor, he has been a strong advocate of budget constraint, open government, neighborhood improvements, smart business growth, and the environment. Ed has worked with 3Gi Terminals, Bristol-Myers-Squib, Buckeye Corrugated, Byrne Ultra Dairy, Carrier, Cyromech, Felmeier, Inficon, NYCanna, Raymond Corp., among others to maintain, expand, redevelop, or locate corporate facilities in DeWitt; thereby, providing good jobs and maintaining a strong tax base. For 12 years, Ed managed the town budget under the NYS tax cap with an annual average increase <1.5%; thereby, maintaining maximum STAR benefit for residents. Ed was able to offset loss of sales tax revenue without an increase in the overall budget. He has implemented multiple green initiatives including Dewitt’s tiered solid waste removal system that lowers costs and promotes recycling, a 51 kW roof top solar array, updated >700 light fixtures, an energy efficient PVC membrane roof to lower heating and cooling costs, two Chevy bolt electric vehicles and electric charging stations, fuel saving idle controls on trucks and fleet cars, and energy savings software on HVAC systems. This summer, street lights were converted to LED and a 2.6 MegaWatt solar farm is being constructed on the former landfill, totally freeing the town from fossil fuel consumption for electricity. Ed is building a world class, all-inclusive recreational sports complex at Carrier Park, home of Syracuse Challenger baseball; he established Fiddlers Green Park; expanded greenspace; improved neighborhood playgrounds; added amenities, trails, bridges and a gazebo at Widewaters, Maxwell, Cedar Bay, Ryder and Butternut Creek Parks.
Ed is a lifelong resident of DeWitt. He and his wife, Mary Ellen, have been married for 38 years. They have four grown children, Elizabeth Dougherty, Michelle Blum, Ed, and Alex; and five grandchildren.
Brian Schultz
Republican, Conservative, Independence
My name is Brian Schultz. I am running for Supervisor for the Town of DeWitt, having been endorsed by the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties. I am a professional financial advisor by trade and proud father of three children. My wife and I chose DeWitt to raise our family and have been proud and active members of this community for over 20 years. In addition to working and raising a family, I am Chairman of the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority which operates the Centro bus service in the counties of Onondaga, Cayuga, Oswego and Oneida, Chairman of the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council (SMTC) Policy Committee, Commissioner in the DeWitt Fire District, Finance Committee Chair for Holy Cross Church, and Treasurer for the Bishop Grimes Board of Trustees. Formerly, I was an active volunteer firefighter with the DeWitt Fire Department for over a decade, fundraiser for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for over a decade, Town of DeWitt board member for 4 years and JD Little League coach. I believe my leadership skills developed over decades of community, government and professional service will serve the town well.
DeWitt Town Clerk (Vote For 1)
Angela Epolito (incumbent)
Democratic, Conservative
Angela Epolito is seeking re-election for DeWitt Town Clerk. She is endorsed by the Democrat, Conservative and Veterans parties. She has worked at the Town of DeWitt for 18+ years. She has a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing from Empire State College. Angela is Secretary to both the Onondaga County Town Clerk and Tax Receivers Associations. She was active as a Cub/Boy Scout Leader for 14 years and a current trustee at the East Syracuse Free Library.
Angela Epolito is grateful for the opportunity to continue serving as DeWitt Town Clerk and promises to continue to find ways to improve the service that the Town Clerk and Tax office provides. Some of her accomplishments include: reducing budget lines for both the Town Clerk and Tax office lines; implementing electronic filing; utilizing the County Tax software for a yearly savings of $28,000 per year; accepting credit card payments for all transactions; cross-trained staff; reorganized files to decrease retrieval time; and updated office forms.
Angela Epolito resides in East Syracuse and is married to Derek Lewis with two children Eliza, 23 and Robert, 20.
DeWitt Town Councilor (Vote For 3)
Karen Docter (incumbent)
Democratic, Conservative
My name is Karen Docter. I am running for re-election in the Town of DeWitt, which includes the Village of East Syracuse, the Hamlet of Jamesville, Collamer, Franklin Park, Lyndon Corners and one half of Hancock International Airport.
I am honored to be endorsed by the DeWitt and Onondaga County Democratic Committees, the DeWitt Conservative Party, the Onondaga County Veterans Party, the Central New York Community Action Program Council, United Auto Workers, Region 9; the Greater Syracuse Labor Council AFL-CIO, and the Communications Workers of America Local 1123.
I earned my Associate of Arts from Onondaga Community College, my Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and two master’s degrees from Syracuse University’s College of Human Development and School of Education. I taught for six years before embarking on a law career. I graduated from Syracuse University College of Law and I have been an attorney in private practice for over 27 years; the hallmark of my practice is representation of children. I’ve been a DeWitt Rotarian since 1996 and am co-chair of the Onondaga County Bar Association’s Family Law Committee.
I have been a DeWitt Town Councilor since January, 2015. In that role, I am a Police Commissioner, Parks and Recreation Commission Liaison, and I serve on the Seniors and Social Services Committees. I am involved in DeWitt’s unique projects, the highlights of which are the evolution of Carrier Park and the Field of Dreams and the Klim Center. I am also the DeWitt delegate to the New York State Association of Towns.
I have the rare opportunity to directly interact with our residents. I like that people do not hesitate to contact me over any issue. I’m always glad when I can answer someone immediately and if I don’t know the answer, I find out! No concern is silly; if it’s important to a resident or a business, it’s important to me.
We DeWitt councilors work together to ensure that our streets are safe, that our infrastructure is sound, that we have a comprehensive plan that respects our residential and economic interests, that our sustainability policies thrive, that our fire and police are top-notch, that we remain below the tax cap and that our residents enjoy the many activities that we offer all year.
I want to continue to serve DeWitt in this capacity for the next four years, and so I ask for your vote this election season.
Kerry Mannion (incumbent)
Democratic, Conservative
Political experience: Town Board 2008 – present, Deputy Supervisor 2009-present.
Education: MBA, Syracuse University. Bachelor’s Degree, University of Notre Dame.
My wife Carolin and I are the proud parents of six children; Jack, Natalie, Stephanie, Maggie, Luke and Nicholas. We have lived in the Orvilton section of Dewitt for over 26 years.
As a current member of the Town Board, I have been an active results-oriented board member. As Chair of the budget committee for eleven years, I have consistently and successfully fought to keep our Town tax rate under the mandated 2% tax cap. We have accomplished this by implementing many long-term annual savings programs such as: consolidating our Tax Receiver with the Town Clerk, taking advantage of early retirement programs offered by New York State, updating our Comptroller’s Department and continuously bidding our contracts along with an ongoing focus on increasing efficiencies within the Town.
I bring an experienced, logical voice to Town Government. Dewitt offers the best place to raise a family with strong neighborhoods while also offering businesses a convenient and first-class environment in which to work. I will continue to work with both residents and businesses to promote the strengths of our Town. We need to strive for economic growth & jobs while maintaining the solid community involvement of our neighborhoods in Dewitt, East Syracuse and Jamesville.
There are always important broad issues facing our Town. One that stands out right now is the successful redevelopment of the ShoppingTown Mall. The proper redevelopment of this parcel is key to the quality of life for our residents and a very important contributor to our tax base. The current property owner has proven to be unreliable, inept, and incompetent. We are doing everything possible within the legal system to bring this gem back to be a productive asset within our town.
Sam Young (incumbent)
Democratic, Working Families Party
I was elected to the DeWitt Town Board in 2015, and began serving in January 2016. As part of the Town Board, I serve on the Budget and Finance Committee, on the Comprehensive Planning Committee, and as a Commissioner on the Police Commission. As I complete my first term as DeWitt Town Councilor, I am proud of the work we have accomplished over the last four years. I worked on legislation which will expand opportunities for mixed use development in DeWitt, to create town centers that are useful and accessible to our residents. I have helped secure funding for the construction of sidewalks on major roadways. I have also worked to expand recreational opportunities for after-school programming, playgrounds and fields for our community’s children.
I would be honored to continue to serve a second terms as a DeWitt Town Councilor. In my next term, I will continue to work with the rest of the Board to expand the coverage and accessibility of sidewalks and walking/biking paths throughout DeWitt. I am proud to have supported the construction of a 2 MW solar farm on our town’s landfill, and will work to increase the Town’s reliance on sustainable energy. Moving forward, DeWitt needs to take an intentional approach to development, encouraging development which provides for a healthy mix of residential, commercial and business uses.
Prior to serving on the Town Board, I served the DeWitt community as a member of the Jamesville DeWitt Board of Education for twelve years, including a term as President. Professionally, I am an attorney with Legal Services of Central New York, which provides free civil legal services to people who cannot otherwise afford them. My volunteer work includes serving in leadership roles at Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas and as a volunteer with the Onondaga County Volunteer Lawyers Project. I am proud to have been endorsed by the Democratic, Working Families and Veterans Parties, as well as by the Greater Syracuse Labor Council. Please honor me with your vote on November 5, 2019.
Manlius Town Supervisor (Vote For 1)
Edmond Theobald (incumbent)
Republican, Conservative, Independence
For over 41 years, I have lived in the town of Manlius (40 as a Minoa resident). Married to Bridget for 41 years with three grown children and two grandchildren, I first served the community since 2004 as a Minoa Village Trustee, then Manlius Town Supervisor since 2010.
My community services are many: owner of Edmond J Theobald Financial Services and a member of the Town of Manlius Chamber of Commerce; former President of St. Mary’s Parish Council for two terms; former lector, commentator and cantor for St. Mary’s Parish; former Vice President and Director of Officials for the ESM Youth Sports and recipient of the George Rees Memorial Award presented by ESM Youth Sports.
Currently I am actively involved with both State and County Associations that focus on issues affecting the town and am 2nd Vice President on the NYS Association of Towns and a member of the NYS Law Enforcement Accreditation council. As an Army Veteran during the Vietnam era, I was appointed by the Onondaga County Legislature as a member of the Onondaga County Advisory Committee for Veteran Affairs.
As Town Supervisor, I am Chief Financial Officer of the town and with input and joint work of the Town Board, I am responsible for keeping our $14 million budget under control, simultaneously keeping taxes under control and providing the quality of services that our residents expect. With my years of community service along with state and county involvement, I have established expanded relationships, solidifying open communications with all three village mayors, two school district superintendents, four fire department chiefs and our County Legislator and County Executive.
Manlius Town Clerk (Vote For 1)
Allison Weber
Republican, Conservative, Independence
Allison is a life-long resident of the Town and has served as Town Clerk since 2008. She lives in Manlius with her husband Michael, her sons Michael and Noah and her two rescue pups Clyde and Piper. Allison is a Registered Municipal Clerk with the New York State Town Clerks Association. Allison previously served as Village of Manlius Court Clerk and is vice president of the Onondaga County Town Clerks Association. She is a graduate of LeMoyne College with a bachelor’s in business administration.
During her tenure she has extended office hours, upgraded town office technology and moved to a paperless records management system which is saving space at town hall. Allison has implemented an online dog licensing program and created opt-in email/text alerts for residents through the town website.
Allison is endorsed by the Veterans Party, the Conservative party, the Republican party and the Independence party.
Manlius Town Councilor (Vote For 3)
John Deer
Democratic, Working Families Party
John worked as a Database Developer at a local company for years before jumping into local politics. John is always looking for ways to bring technology to bear, solving problems and bringing to light new perspectives with his love of data analysis.
John is the Vice Chair of the Town of Manlius Democratic Committee and works diligently to empower Democratic candidates around Onondaga County. John ran a robust campaign for Town Clerk in 2017 and worked on the campaigns of Mike Montes for Onondaga County Sheriff and Dana Balter for Congress in 2018. John is currently working as the Field Director of Tony Malavenda for Onondaga County Executive.
John and his wife, Prerna, a Registered Nurse, moved to Central New York in 2013 and fell in love with the Fayetteville-Manlius area. They set down their roots, making the Town of Manlius their home and know it is a great place to raise children. John will bring energy, an important technology perspective, and strong analytical skills to the Board.
Transparency
Public Input
All town board meetings should provide citizens the opportunity to be heard. The current rules of decorum require residents to submit questions and discussion topics days in advance, removing their voice and slowing progress.
Livestream and Record Meetings
With modern A/V capabilities, it’s a serious issue that official meetings are not streamed and provided to the public via the internet. When minutes are made public, so too should recordings. Whether to overcome work schedules, childcare, or individuals who may be differently abled, hosted videos are essential to allow everyone to participate.
Awareness
In a fast-paced world, we need to ensure every effort is taken to inform the public. By fully utilizing social media and modern infrastructure, we need to do everything possible to increase awareness of local government and actively engage residents.
100% Clean Renewable Energy Community
Complete Streets
Everyone of us can make everyday decisions to help the climate in our town through input to the town board. Our town should accommodate all forms of transportation and ensure safety for all pedestrians.
Solar and Electric Vehicle Grants
Our most effective tool to combat the climate crisis is clean energy. As a town, we can develop a community solar initiative, empowering our residences to move off of fossil fuels. We can also use state grants to move our fleets to Electric Vehicles while adding EV charging sites in our community.
Sensitive Land Use
With the wonderful green spaces we have in Manlius, it’s important that they are protected from development. By making clear rules for developers to follow, we can ensure our natural resources are preserved for future generations.
Comprehensive Land Use Plan
Smart Growth
Currently, our zoning is done based on rules from the 1990’s. By working towards a comprehensive plan, we can ensure that new development is created by the values of our town and work towards our collective goals. We can ensure to maintain the character of Manlius while allowing our local economy to develop.
Three Villages, One Town
With three robust and diverse villages located in a populous town, communication and coordination must be a priority. By encouraging all villages to take part in writing a comprehensive plan, we can prioritize collaboration, leading to a seamless community that serves everyone.
Eco-friendly Development
We want to encourage new development in our town but not at a cost to our natural resources. A comprehensive plan can address how land is managed based on the impact to the environment.
Elaine Denton
Democratic, Working Families Party
Elaine is a passionate advocate for social equality that will use her voice to ensure the Town Board represents the people who live in the Town of Manlius. She volunteers with Moms Demand Action, the Syracuse Peace Council, CNY Solidarity Coalition and Indivisible NY24. As a graphic designer, Elaine uses her knowledge of design, technology, and communication to enable all members of our community to be informed and to participate in our government.
Elaine grew up on a dairy farm in West Winfield, NY. She graduated from Mount Markham High School and earned her bachelor degree in New Media Design from Rochester Institute of Technology. Elaine and her husband, Matthew, have lived in the Town of Manlius for over 10 years with their children, Caprice, Lionel and August, and an assortment of chickens.
Through her volunteer work and meetings with our representatives, Elaine has learned that we need to make changes at every level of government. We need to ensure that our community is informed on all local issues by having a transparent local government. She has listened to her neighbors express their concerns for our environment, concerns that she shares. Before her children even graduate high school the climate crisis will be impacting us all.
The Town Board can do more and Elaine would like to serve her community by representing residents on the Town Board to increase transparency, to protect our environment and to plan for the future.
John Loeffler (incumbent)
Republican, Conservative, Independence
I’m running for re-election as Manlius Town Councilor as it is the best way I know to give back to the place I have called home for more than 30 years, and a place that has meant so much to my family and me. I would consider it an honor and privilege to continue on in this role.
Political Affiliation: Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, Independence and Veteran’s Parties
Political Experience: Town Councilor (6 terms) and Deputy Town Supervisor. Chair of the Police Committee and Planning & Zoning Committee. Member of the Budget and Personnel committees
Education: MBA from Cornell University, with concentration in marketing and general management; Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University
Work Experience: I began my career with General Electric (later Lockheed Martin) as a Systems Engineer and moved to Sensis Corporation five years later. For most of the past 26 years I have worked at Carrier, where I am currently a Global Product Manager.
Community Involvement: I’m a long-time coach of youth sports (baseball, basketball) and a member of the Immaculate Conception Parish. I am also a graduate of the Leadership Greater Syracuse program.
Personal: My wife and I moved to Manlius in 1988. We raised our 3 sons in this wonderful community, all of whom graduated from FM Schools. I was born and raised in Central New York, and love to travel and experience new countries and cultures. I like all things sports in my spare time, and enjoy learning more about history and current events whenever I get the chance.
Priorities: With a background and career in engineering and business, I try to bring a focus on execution and customer service to the Town Board. My priorities are to continue our Board’s efforts to ensure a resident-centric efficient, effective, community-based government.
Nicholas Marzola (incumbent)
Republican, Conservative, Independence
I’ve served as Manlius Town Councilor for 17 years and chair the Budget & Finance, Fire & EMS, Technology and Professional Services Committees, and am Highway Department Liaison. I’ve been endorsed by the Onondaga County Veteran’s, Republican, Conservative and Independence parties.
I previously served as Village of Manlius Trustee and sat on the Village of Manlius Planning and Zoning Boards. My wife, Patricia, and I are 33-year residents of the Village of Manlius. We have three adult sons, all of whom attended FM schools, and are members of Immaculate Conception Parish.
I bring 35 years of finance, operations, governmental, executive management, healthcare and related benefits administration experience to the Town Board. I am a CPA and VP, CFO and Treasurer of Hollowick, Inc. in the Village of Manlius.
I entered public service to ensure our Town is financially sound and operates prudently for the overall public good. I enjoy interacting with constituents, discussing issues and bringing value via the unique skills I bring to the board as a CPA and seasoned financial management executive.
I’m proud to note that for the past seven years, the town has received the highest fiscal solvency rating a NYS municipality can receive. This gives town residents assurance that Manlius has minimal fiscal stress, is fiscally strong, is prudently managed and consistently approaches fiscal affairs. Additionally, the Town budget is consistently under the tax cap, with a 1.0% tax reduction in last year’s budget.
I focus on operational excellence, financial and budgetary stewardship to ensure a stable tax rate, prudent planning and zoning management, enhanced constituent service and innovation in the way the Town conducts business.
My overall priority is to ensure that the community-based government services that residents expect are provided in a timely, effective and cost-efficient way with constituent-focused service top of mind.
Lourdes Rosario
Republican, Conservative, Independence
I am a first-time candidate for public office and have lived in the in the town of Manlius since 2013 with my husband, Laz.
I’ve worked in the legal field since being admitted to the New York State Bar Association in 2010 and am principal of the Rosario Law Firm, which represents clients with criminal, family and divorce matters. Previously I worked as a law intern with the New York State Division of Human Rights and the State Attorney General’s Office and was a staff attorney for Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid, where I supported clients in Family Court.
I am proud to be a first-generation Cuban-American, and am bilingual in English and Spanish and speak conversational French, Italian and Portuguese. If elected, I will use my diverse legal, communications and negotiation expertise and skills to ensure that town residents are heard and their perspectives are applied in all town board decisions. I respectfully ask for your vote so that I can advocate for the people of this community and help continually improve their quality of life.
Heather Waters
Democratic, Working Families Party
Heather is a Democratic and Working Families-endorsed candidate for Manlius Town Board. “I will be a collaborative Town Councilor, using my 20 year track record of success working with people of every political stripe in entrepreneurship, law, education, and the arts. I support smart growth and invite residents with young families and newcomers to help us to shape a comprehensive plan with renewable energy as a focus. I am proud to run with our remarkable slate and to be the only candidate in Central New York to be endorsed by Vote Mama, which supports Democratic moms with young children running for office.”
Heather grew up in Fayetteville and graduated from F-M High School in 1995. She earned her undergraduate degree in politics from Mount Holyoke College and her master’s in negotiation and conflict resolution from Columbia University. Heather will apply her success in fundraising and grant-writing to help secure project investment to benefit our town and village partners. Heather serves on the Advisory Council of OCM BOCES Innovation Tech High School. What keeps her up at night? The experiences and needs of LGBTQ youth in our community; preventing the spread of tick-borne diseases; biking safety on our roads; firearm storage and accident prevention; and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Heather lives in Fayetteville with her husband, Sterling Waters, their 7 year-old son, Riley, and rescued pets: Kelly, Atlas, and Zelda.
(TO FILL VACANCY) [VOTE FOR 1]
Katelyn Kriesel
Democratic
Katelyn is a hard-working, single mom who started her own successful business and founded a not-for-profit while raising her two daughters. Katelyn is a Financial Advisor at Hansen’s Advisory Services in Fayetteville, where she practices Socially Responsible Investing, helping her clients to achieve their financial goals while investing in companies that meet their values. She is also the President and Founder of the Sustainable Economies Alliance, a not-for-profit organization with a mission to raise community awareness regarding economic sustainability and empowerment. The Alliance has had several successful initiatives, including the Reinvest CNY campaign and the Financial Education Initiative. Previously in her career, Katelyn was the Project Coordinator of the Solarize CNY campaign to help people go solar, which added more than 2 MW of solar energy to a five county region in Central New York, including her parent’s house in the Village of Manlius. She continues her work in renewable energy as a consultant.
While she is very passionate about her work, her first priority has always been her family. Katelyn grew up in Manlius, and as a 2005 FM graduate, Katelyn knew the town was the best place to raise her two daughters, Alianna and Vivienne. The girls both attend Fay El, and all three absolutely love their community. Katelyn and the girls also have a local celebrity in their family; their dog Henry! Three years ago, Katelyn found Henry on the side of the road, clinging to life. She rescued him, and with the support of the community, was able to bring him back to life.
Katelyn has been passionate and engaged with her community from a young age, and is looking forward to serving the residents of Manlius as their Town Councilor.
Sherene Pavone
Republican, Conservative
Sherene Pavone and her husband Salvatore have lived in Manlius for 27 years where they raised their three boys Angelo (24), Dante (22) and Carlo (17). Sherene is an attorney in private practice and a first-time candidate for office. She has specialized in family court and matrimonial law for more than 23 years and has her law office in Manlius. As a first generation Iranian-American, she lived in Iran from ages four until eight and is bilingual. Sherene was awarded the Michael Dillon award for her advocacy of children. She is also a board member of the CNY Collaborative Group and co-led the premarital mentoring ministry at her church.
As town councilor, Sherene says her focus will be using her legal expertise to foster a collaborative environment that welcomes diverse viewpoints to ensure the highest quality of services for town residents. She has broad professional experience in reaching constructive solutions in often difficult, emotionally-charged situations and said she will utilize those resolution skills to help the constituents.
Sherene said she feels fortunate to live in a close-knit community with an outstanding school system and wide variety of recreational opportunities. Pavone is a graduate of the University of Rochester and Syracuse University College of Law who enjoys music, running and travel.
