By David Tyler
After 30 years of government service to residents of the Manlius area, Onondaga County Legislator Kevin Holmquist has announced that he will not run for re-election when his term expires in 2021.
Holmquist, 54, was first elected to the Manlius Village Board in 1991 at the age of 24. He served as a trustee for 10 years before being elected to the Manlius Town Board for four years, and then serving in the county legislature for the past 16 years.
Shortly after Holmquist made his announcement, Fayetteville Mayor Mark Olson released a statement that he will be running as a Republican to fill the vacated seat.
“As mayor of the village of Fayetteville for the past 16 years, quality of life for the residents I serve has been in the forefront of every decision,” Olson said in the release. “Always looking for new ideas and ways to do business has made Fayetteville the leader in so many initiatives. I want to take this can-do attitude to the 10th district and the county.”
Holmquist said that Olson’s interest in the position gave him the confidence to step aside believing that there was a strong replacement on the ballot.
“I didn’t want to just leave,” Holmquist said. “I wanted to make sure we had a great candidate running next year. That sealed the deal for me.”
Holmquist said he plans to travel more and spend more time with his wife and his five-year-old grandson. He will continue to be the branch manager at the Key Bank in the village of Manlius.
“I think it’s the right decision for our family, for sure,” Holmquist said. “It’s mixed emotions, but I think it’s a good time, and I’m ready to have other people run.”
Holmquist said he will continue to be involved in the GOP in the town of Manlius and will be active in promoting the slate of candidates Manlius Republicans will be putting up for next year’s local election.
“We want to support some really outstanding candidates that will be running next year,” he said. “I will absolutely be supporting Mark in any way possible. I just think he’ll be an outstanding candidate.”
During his final year in the legislature Holmquist said he wants to be actively involved in the redistricting of legislative districts that takes place every 10 years.
“I want to make sure we retain and continue our open, fair redistricting process that we’ve had,” he said. “I’ll be fully participating in the redistricting plan for the county.”
Olson indicated that running for the county legislature is something he has always wanted to do, and with his sons now in college, the timing is right. When Terry Pickard resigned from the position 16 years ago, Olson said he considered throwing his hat in the ring, but felt he was too young and had too many family commitments at the time. The 2021 election will mark only the second time in the past 35 years that the seat has been open.
“I’ve had the honor of serving as mayor and I look forward to the opportunity to serve as the county legislator to hopefully bring that same dedication, hard work, professionalism and leadership to the county legislature to help the residents of the 10th district,” Olson said. “I’m excited for the challenge. It’s something I always wanted to do.”
If elected to the county legislature, Olson said he could legally fill a seat on the legislature and continue to carry out his mayoral duties in Fayetteville for a period of about three months, until an election could be held in March 2022.
“I wouldn’t have to appoint anybody,” Olson said. “They would have an election in March of ’22 and the village residents would get to choose their new mayor.”
In the meantime, he said, it’s business as usual in the village of Fayetteville.
“I’ve got to continue to run the village as if I’m going to continue to be the mayor for the next three years,” Olson said. “Really, the day-to-day operations of the village and goals aren’t going to change.”