Stirpe bows out: Cicero Democrat ends campaign for state senate seat

CENTRAL NEW YORK – On Dec. 20, State Assemblyman Al Stirpe suspended his campaign for the State Senate District 50 seat being vacated by John Mannion.
Stirpe, a Democrat, said that it’s more important for him to benefit from the seniority he has earned in the assembly than to seek office in the senate. He remains committed to running again in the 127th Assembly District which covers the towns of Cicero, Clay, Manlius, Pompey and Tully.
Stirpe began his campaign for the state senate seat in October. But two months later he reconsidered.
Last week he said, “I’ve decided that I can best serve my Central New York community by remaining in the People’s House and serving the residents of the 127th Assembly District.”
He pointed to his 16 years of Assembly experience as a foundation to build on.
“The relationships I have cultivated in the Assembly as well as the seniority I have built there enabled me to best deliver results for our community and is something I have realized I cannot walk away from,” Stirpe said.
In dropping out of the senate race, Stirpe joins Jim Rowley, the Republican chairman of the Onondaga County Legislature, who announced on Dec. 2 that he was suspending his campaign.
Salina Town Supervisor Nick Paro is now the only Republican who has declared candidacy in the 50th District.
Rowley did not endorse Paro, though prominent local GOP figures including former Congressman John Katko, hosted a $1,000-per-person fundraiser for Paro on Dec.7 at the Century Club in Syracuse.
Paro’s campaign manager, Liam O’Connor, released a statement on Dec. 21 reacting to Stirpe’s decision.
“Whoever the opponent may be,” O’Connor wrote, “our team remains laser-focused on bringing people together to tackle the issues facing our community at the state level.”
Two Democrats are still seeking their party’s nomination to run in the 50th District: Onondaga County Legislature Minority Leader Chris Ryan and Tom Drumm, a former Oswego County Legislator.
The 50th District’s current senator, Democrat John Mannion of Geddes, has decided against running for a third term next year and will run instead for Central New York’s seat in Congress against incumbent Republican Brandon Williams.
The 50th District encompasses the towns of Camillus, Cicero, Clay, DeWitt, Geddes, Manlius, and Salina; the cities of Oswego and Fulton, and 10 towns in Oswego County.