SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – The race for the 55th mayor of Syracuse has heated up. This week, party designations for all of the candidates have opened up. Each candidate needs to fill it out by Thursday at 5 p.m.
This is a pivotal election as the previous mayor, Ben Walsh, will no longer be in office due to term limitations. Walsh has been the mayor of Syracuse since 2018.
“If I am being completely honest I haven’t been too happy with the leadership shown by the previous administration,” said Syracuse resident Michael Rice.
Walsh was a registered independent. So far this time around, five of the candidates are Democrats while just one is a Republican.
“I am looking forward to using my democratic vote to help create change,” Rice said.
Overall, Syracuse is a more Democratic area, but as of late there have been more Republican voters. Walsh was the first independent mayor in Syracuse history, and with the time he spent in office, residents have become accustomed to him.
This is also a pivotal election because it’s a time that holds a lot of trials and tribulations. Countless issues are present in Syracuse like a lack of water, but the mayor of Syracuse also holds an important role within the United States.
Syracuse is seen as a mid-major city that is “up and coming,” so it’s an important time for a person of power to make moves that will push the city in the right direction.
There are big plans for the future of Syracuse, headlined by the implementation of the Micron plant, which will sit in Clay, just a couple miles outside the city.
AUDIO TRANSCRIPT: Race for next mayor of Syracuse heats up
Tommy Moe: The race for the 55th mayor of Syracuse heats up this week. NCC’s Milo Hoffman has more.
Milo Hoffman: Candidates for the next mayor of Syracuse need to fill out their party designations by 5 p.m on Thursday. That means by the end of this week, the question of who’s on the ballot should be a lot more clear.
Hoffman: Syracuse resident Michael Rice says a change in office is much needed.
Michael Rice: Yeah, if I am being completely honest I haven’t been too happy with the leadership shown by the previous administration.
Hoffman: The current mayor of Syracuse, Ben Walsh, who’s registered as an independent has been in office since 2018. Because of that, this will be his last term as the mayor due to term limits.
Hoffman: As of now, there are six total candidates who’ve begun a campaign, five of them are registered Democrats.
Hoffman: Reporting for NCC News, I’m Milo Hoffman.