By Ashley M. Casey

Staff Writer

Democratic incumbent Pamela Hunter retained her seat in the 128th New York State Assembly District. Hunter ran unopposed and received 36,003 votes.

“We worked very, very hard to get to where we are today,” Hunter said at the Onondaga County Democratic Committee gathering at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown, formerly the Hotel Syracuse.

Going forward, Hunter said her legislative priorities are to focus on economic development, improve infrastructure and reform the use of solitary confinement for juvenile offenders. Hunter said reform is also needed for unfunded mandates related to raising the minimum wage and workers compensation.

“It’s hurting businesses,” she said. “We definitely need to take a look at that.”

In 2015, Hunter won her seat in a special election after Sam Roberts vacated the seat to take the position of commissioner of the state’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Hunter is a veteran of the U.S. Army and has sat on the board of the Syracuse Industrial Development Agency for two years. Previously, Hunter served on the Syracuse Common Council.

The 128th District includes the south and east sides of the city of Syracuse, as well as the towns of DeWitt, Onondaga and Salina and the Onondaga Nation.