BALDWINSVILLE — Two candidates are running for the 1st District of the Onondaga County Legislature, which includes the town of Lysander and part of the town of Clay.
Two candidates are running for the 13th District of the Onondaga County Legislature, which encompasses the towns of Camillus, Elbridge and Van Buren.
The 2021 general election is Tuesday, Nov. 2. For information about polling places and early voting, visit ongov.net/elections or contact the Onondaga County Board of Elections at 315-435-8683.
Read on to meet the candidates (listed alphabetically).
District 1
Brian May (incumbent)
Republican, Conservative
May is the CEO of a local financial institution and lives in Lysander.
How will your experience serve you in government?
Whether it’s healthcare, human services, farming or business, each member of the legislature brings perspectives that contribute to the policy-making process. I rely on the knowledge, skills and experience gained from a career spent exclusively in the private sector, where results and accountability are the bottom line every day. These competencies have proven invaluable in my ability to contribute both as a policy maker and as majority leader of the legislature.
What do you think are the biggest challenges in your community?
These days, one of the greatest challenges facing local municipalities — village, town and especially the county — is staying above the fray of emotionally charged partisan politics seen at higher levels of government. Local government is closest to our citizens and performs the services most needed. Local government leaders must keep the viability, relevance and sustainability of core services at forefront of their priorities. I am proud of my leadership role in the legislature’s management of severe economic challenges presented by the pandemic, which involved extremely difficult financial decisions to keep the county moving forward and vital services intact. There is no place for politics in these situations. We need to keep delivering and improving services for taxpayers while keeping costs low and sustainable.
What are your ideas for addressing these challenges?
“Sustainability” is a trendy word. It’s also a mandate when it comes to running local government. More than half of the local revenue supporting the county’s $1.4 billion budget comes from sales tax. As the economic drivers of our community change and evolve, it’s imperative that county government changes and evolves with them. Strategic initiatives and investments that leverage strengths (tourism) and improve on weaknesses (manufacturing) are keys to keeping the county portion of property tax bills low. We also need to listen better than ever — residents place high value on the public’s safety and well-being, they want local government to be affordable and want the services they need. These priorities require sustainable revenue sources that benefit our economy by growing employment, increasing tourism and improving quality of life for everyone who lives here.
Justin Neal
Democratic
Neal is a pharmacist who lives in Baldwinsville.
How will your experience serve you in government?
I have served in leadership roles in pharmacy and healthcare for the past 15 years. I’ve learned the dual challenges of managing budgets while also delivering services to patients. Onondaga County has to manage the needs of its citizens while also managing the costs to keep it operating. My background in both will allow me to help strike that balance.
What do you think are the biggest challenges in your community?
Transparency and fairness in government have been a challenge in Onondaga County. In 2019 my opponent and I both signed a pledge to support “non-partisan and independent redistricting.” Not only has that not happened, this week the legislature rushed appointing a redistricting panel to keep themselves in power. For those that feel county government is disconnected and ineffective, too focused on Amazon, aquariums and soccer fields than keeping our county affordable, we need change. We cannot expect to keep the same legislators in office for more than a decade and expect different results. If we want to see a change, we need change.
What are your ideas for addressing these challenges?
I would follow through on my pledge to do what ever I can to ensure fair elections and transparent government. No more gerrymandered lines. I would ensure that everything that comes from the county executive is not rubber stamped by the Legislature. I would question these programs to ensure the tax incentives we give are commensurate with the benefit to the community. We have all learned that backroom deals often just lead to extended tax benefits that don’t end up paying off. We are recovering from a challenging several years and have strained county resources by cutting funding for essential services. We need to make sure the needs of the community are met and county departments are appropriately funded. It’s disheartening to see the same legislature voting to fund aquariums and soccer fields a year after voting to layoff 250 county employees.
District 13
The Messenger did not receive a response from Democratic candidate Sara Aaserud.
Ken Bush Jr. (incumbent)
Republican, Conservative
Bush is a funeral director. Follow “Ken Bush Jr. Onondaga County Legislator-13th District” on Facebook to learn more.
How will your experience serve you in government?
Having previously served as a town councilor and town supervisor and now as a county legislator I have gained the knowledge and experience needed to help people. Also, my work with the Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District Board, the County Fisheries Advisory Board, and the DEC Region 7 Fish and Wildlife Management Advisory Board shows I have a great appreciation for issues relating to the environment.
What do you think are the biggest challenges in your community?
One of the biggest challenges facing the 13th District is job opportunities. I am encouraged by the fact that economic growth in the county appears to be headed in the right direction. However, the issues surrounding I-81 and its removal if that happens will impact us. Public safety is a concern and I am a strong supporter of local policing and having community police departments. Costs relating to government operations are always a challenge and fortunately at the county level the property tax rate has not increased in recent years. Public transportation has become an issue with Centro scaling back its bus service.
What are your ideas for addressing these challenges?
As to economic development, the towns and county need to work together to establish suitable sites for job growth throughout the county and to provide the necessary infrastructure. Proper zoning should be a top priority. Controlling government costs is always a challenge and each major spending decision needs to be considered in light of the long term costs. Inflation is going to be an issue for the taxpayer and government alike. Sales tax revenues are a major funding source to operate county government and if the economy improves it will help increase the sales tax collections. Funding from the state should increase and that will help Centro add back recently discontinued bus routes.
