Victim Testifies Against Robber

November 17, 2009

A Syracuse woman pointed at the defendant in a County Courtroom this afternoon and said he broke into her home and held a gun to her head. Lissette Tejeda (pictured left, photo courtesy of Facebook), 35, of 2012 Bellevue Ave., tearfully described what she said happened in the early hours of Aug. 19, 2008, as the defendant Eric Moore, 35, of 403 Merriman Ave., Syracuse, shook his head at parts of her testimony.

Tejeda said Moore and his brother Charles Moore, 33, of Kenwood Ave., and a still unidentified man broke in while she and her daughters Liandra, 10, and Elizabeth, 8, were asleep.

“Eric, why you doin’ this to me?” Tejeda said, when she narrated recognizing Moore. “My name is not Eric bitch,” she said Moore replied.

Tejeda said Eric Moore pinned her to her bed, bound her with duct tape, and put a gun to her head. After Tejeda’s daughters were brought into her bedroom, Charles Moore and the other man fled with $500 as Eric Moore watched the three females and then left.

“I’ll tell you whatever you want to hear after this is all over, whether I’m at the Justice Center or on the street,” Eric Moore said to student reporters during a break in the trial. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”

Tejeda said she told her sister Jennifer Claudio, “Not that I think, that I know it was Eric and Charles Moore,” in the hours after the robbery.

Defense attorney Paul Carey was scheduled to cross-examine Tejeda after a ten-minute break.

Victim identifies robber

Testifying through tears this afternoon Lissete Tejeda identified defendant Eric Moore as the man held her down while she was being robbed.

Three men broke into Tejeda’s home on 2012 bellevue ave. on August 19, 2008. A man with a gun was standing next to Tejeda when she woke up, she said. Two more men were in the bedroom. Tejeda says the man with the gun got on top of her, and duct taped her mouth and hands. Another man went through the drawers searching for a shoebox.

Moore’s brother, Charles, has pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary.

The third man has not been identified.

Tejeda said she recognized the man on top of her when  he turned his face to the side.  “I said, ‘Eric why are you doing this to me?’” Tejeda said while Assistant District Attorney Michael Kasmarek questioned her. ‘He said to me, “my name is not Eric bitch, that’s not my name.”’

An emotional Tejeda pointed to Eric Moore to identify him.

Tejeda said she knew it was Charles Moore going through the drawers, “I automatically knew who the other person was, ” she said. “His walk stands out.”

Tejeda said she gave them 500 dollars when they threatened her children.

“He told me not call the police or he will be back” Tejeda said when asked why she did not identify Moore immediately

Moore was visibly upset with Tejeda’s testimony, often shaking his head in disagreement.

“I’ve got nothing to hide,” He said to reporters outside the court room during a break before Tejeda testified.

 

 

 

 

 

Voter turnout quiet and anonymous

It was cold windy this afternoon at the Toomey Abbott Towers in Syracuse, voter turnout was quiet; the traffic gave no indication an election was even happening.

 

"Nothing's going on in there. It's so boring,” An elections inspector smoking a cigarette outside said. 

Not many people came in and out of the Towers, it seemed that those voting supported Democrat Stephanie Miner. The few we talked to didn't mind saying whom they voted for but also didn't want their names getting out, treating their political opinion as if it was their social security number.  "I wanted to come out and show my support for the Democratic parties,” Anthony, a senior at SU said. The engineering major didn’t give his last name; he would not explain why. 

 

An older white woman, who chose not to be identified citing reasons of privacy, supported Miner; it wasn’t just to vote for the Democratic Party.

"Everybody's talking about what they're gonna do, but I've actually seen what she's done." The voter said Miner’s afterschool and lunch programs showed she was capable of getting things done as Mayor.

 

A black woman, who also asked not to be identified, because she did not want people to know she voted for Miner, said that race was didn’t factor into her voting decision.

"I'm not part of a mob mentality, him [Otis Jennings] being affiliated with me did not affect me at all."

 

She said she chose Miner because of the children of Syracuse. "We're dealing with our future here. These kids need to be off the streets."

Miner takes syracuse mayorial election

 Stephanie Miner entered the Syracuse University's Regency Ballroom to a thunderous roar Tuesday night. The Black Eyed Peas, “I Gotta Feeling”, blared from the speakers. County Legislator Martin D. Masterpole (D-Syracuse) stood on his chair, applauding. Miner had been elected Mayor of Syracuse.

 Her supporters at the Democratic celebration say she will be an agent of change in the city.

“You want a new beginning? She is the one,” John John Williams III, a campaigner for Miner said, “She is another Obama.”

Half the people who voted in Syracuse agreed with Williams. Her opponent, Republican Steve Kimatian took 39 percent of the vote.

            Miner says that she realizes what challenges lie ahead.

            ““Tonight we have convinced people that we share the power in believing that we can make this city better,” Miner said. “But together we have tremendous obstacles to overcome.”

            Miner says she will not back away from those obstacles.

            "We will fight to make the city of Syracuse a better place," she said.

Tom Young said Miner is the person for the job in the tough years ahead.

         “Stephanie has the intellect, the energy, the determination, and the devotion to lead Syracuse in the challenging years ahead.” The former Syracuse Mayor said when he was introducing Miner.

           It was obvious that for Miner, the words of the Black Eyed Peas rang true. Miner could not stop smiling during her acceptance speech.           

But Miner knows she can’t enjoy her victory for too long.

            “The real work starts tomorrow.” She said, “Tomorrow will come soon enough.” 

Politicians at Spaghetti Warehouse Focus on 23rd District

The annual Election Day Spagetti Supper at The Cathedral Academy at Our Lady of Pompei in Syracuse was filled with anyone and just about everyone involved in Onondaga County politics today. It is not in the 23^rd Congressional district, and no one there was running for that seat either. But everyone at the supper was talking about one of the most riveting elections in the country, an election happening less than an hour away from Syracuse.

Rather than backing the Republican nominee, Dede Scozzafava, conservatives put up Doug Hoffman for the job and attacked Scozzafava as a liberal. Trailing in the polls, she dropped out over the weekend and backed the Democrat, Bill Owens.

"The impression was that she was doing this (dropping out) for the party. Republican Andrew Russo. He said he will run for state Senate next year. “It's a confusing action and I really don't understand it."

The controversy in the 23^rd district concerns some Republicans about the strength of the national G.O.P.

“It makes the Republican Party seem like it doesn't have room for dissenting voices." Kevin Kuehner, a Republican running for the 16th district seat in the Onondaga County Legislature, said. Hoffman should not have been in the race, Kuehner, who is also a part-time Professor at SU, said.

County Legislator Mark A. Stancyk (D-Syracuse), said Scozzafava was wronged by her party, "The Republicans harpooned her."

Victim Takes the Stand in Armed Robbery Trial

Lissette Tejeda fought back tears Tuesday afternoon as she told the jury about three men who she said broke into her home and threatened her children. The defendant, Eric Moore (pictured left), 35, glared at Tejeda as she identified him as one of the men who robbed her home on Aug. 19 of last year.

Tejeda said three black men broke into her house on Bellevue Ave. in Syracuse through a basement window. After entering the master bedroom, one of the men restrained Tejeda with duct tape and pointed a gun to her face as he pinned her to the bed, she said.

Tejeda said she recognized Moore, who had his face partially covered, when he got off the bed to search her closet for money. She said he turned his head to talk to his brother and that’s when she saw his face.

“When I realized it was him, I yelled, ‘Eric, why are you doing this to me?’” Tejeda said during her testimony at the Onondaga County Courthouse. “He said, ‘My name is not Eric bitch, that’s not my name.’”

Moore is charged with first-degree burglary and robbery, which carry a maximum prison sentence of 25 years. Tejeda said the three men took $500 from her home.

Moore’s brother, Charles Moore, 33, pleaded guilty on Nov. 12 to attempted burglary in the first-degree for his role in the break-in. The third man involved has not been identified.

Moore’s attorney, Paul Carey, was scheduled to cross-examine Tejeda after a short recess.

Newcomer Benefits From a Little Bit of Luck

Incumbent city councilor Michael Heagerty opened the door when he failed to get his name on the Democratic line and tonight Republican Matt Rayo walked in to become the youngest common councilor in Syracuse history.

Rayo, 23, and his family were among the few celebrating at the Republican Election Night party at the OnCenter.

After graduating from SUNY-ESF two years ago, Rayo says he decided to combine his passion for the environment with his interest in politics. In 2008, Rayo began his career by working for Dale Sweetland during his failed campaign for Congress.

Rayo campaigned door-to-door with family members and handed out lawn signs to supporters in the months leading up to this year's election.

His aunt, Joan Rayo Adams, says she was impressed with the way her nephew conducted his campaign. “People loved him when we campaigned together,” she said. “He was always walking around, meeting members from the community. He asked people about their concerns and they seemed to really respond to his message.”

It also helped considerably that after Heagerty forgot to sign his own petition. He wound up far down the ballot on the Working Parties line. “Heagerty didn’t really stay on top of the details and unfortunately it adversely affected him,” said Robert Rayo, Matt Rayo’s uncle. “Matt found a crack in the armor and moved right in.”

Just before eleven p.m., Rayo's cell phone rang. It was Heagerty. Rayo's family eagerly looked on as he accepted the concession call.

New Voting Machines Just Ain't Cutting It

Onondaga County bought 500 new voting machines but while voters may have paid for them, getting them to use them looks like a tougher sell. Election workers delivered these machines to polling places throughout Onondaga County before Tuesday’s election.

At two polling places where voters had a choice, most were going with the old lever machines.

An election inspector at Toomey Abbott Towers, a senior citizen apartment building near Syracuse University, says the new paper-ballot-and-scanner voting machines are too complicated for voters to use.

“These new machines suck,” said the inspector, who spoke on the condition of not being identified. “They’re just too slow. Most people are simple, just meat and potatoes.”

The inspector added one person used the new voting machine during the September primary. During Tuesday’s election, voters at Toomey Abbott Towers had the option to vote using lever machines or the new electronic voting machines.

“People can pull a lever,” the inspector said. “The writing ballot is too complicated. It takes handicapped people almost 30 minutes to vote using the new machines.”

Another election inspector at the E.S. Bird Library on the Syracuse University campus says she is frustrated with the new voting machines. “It’s going to be the only machine next year,” Susan Greenman said. “We don’t know what we’re doing. Personally, I think New York State made a bad choice.”

As of 10:00 a.m., four hours after the polls had opened, no voter had used the new voting machines at the Bird Library.

Family and Mistake Help Rayo Win Office

At the sparsely attended and relatively uneventful Republican Election Night party on Tuesday, one family stood out in celebration. This excited, energetic group of six was the family of Matt Rayo, the 23- year-old Republican winner of the 1st District seat on the Syracuse Common Council. As the overhead lights flickered in the ballroom of the OnCenter, and reality shows played until results came in on one of only two TVs, the proud Rayo family was the life of a party that was almost all their own.

A young candidate with no name recognition, Rayo said he had to campaign door-to-door to gain support. The 2008 graduate of SUNY ESF had to rely on personal conversations and help from his supportive family, he said. “It really was a family effort,” said Robert Rayo, Matt’s uncle. “We’re all excited so we wanted to be there to help and support him.”

Rayo won the election by about 23 percent, facing competition from only Michael Heagerty on the Working Families Party line. Heagerty failed to get enough legitimate signatures on his petition, including his own, to run as a Democrat leaving Rayo at the top of the ballot. Although he won by “finding a crack in the armor,” his hard work ethic will prove that he is ready for the job, said Uncle Robert Rayo.

After the only applause of the night signaled Rayo’s victory, some of the remaining Republicans offered congratulations, but none was more enthusiastic than his family. “I think he can really make a difference,” said Uncle Robert Rayo.

Spaghetti Supper is More Than Just Politics

The annual Spaghetti Supper at Our Lady of Pompei is known for drawing politicians, but if you look hard enough, you’ll find another story. The Supper has become an Election Day staple in its 60 years of existence, and while "anyone who's anyone" in Syracuse politics attends, some residents of the North Side agreed that it's about more than just politics; it's about the community.

The North Side used to be a close-knit Italian neighborhood, said Pat Carelli, a lively 77 year-old alum of the school at Our Lady of Pompei and lifelong resident of the North Side. "I've been coming since the school and church have been here. We've changed throughout the years. Look at the neighborhood, the people."

Now that many of the third generation North Siders have moved away, so have the original traditions, said Carelli’s friend and one time neighbor Peggy Lee who now lives in the suburbs. The Supper is a chance for old friends to reconnect, she said, proudly pointing out past neighbors, classmates, and relatives at other tables in the packed and noisy cafeteria. While politicians attend hoping to win votes, chat with colleagues or simply to be seen, "It's more important as a tradition than it is political," Paris said.

The Supper shows the loyalty of the original North Side community, Carelli said reflectively. Some of the ethnic feel has been lost, but the Supper keeps its spirit alive for those who appreciate the community it used to be, Carelli said. "This is the last thing people can hang on to."

S-U College Democrats Celebrate Miner's Victory

November 4, 2009

For the Syracuse University College Democrats (right), Stephanie Miner’s Syracuse mayoral election victory is something to take pride in. The student organization spent the first two months of this semester actively campaigning for Miner, President Kyle Rapone said at Miner’s Election Night party at the University Sheraton.

“From the very get go, we canvassed for her, phone banked, did everything we can to put her over the top,” Rapone said. “Almost every single weekend we’d get a bunch of students and go door to door and remind people to vote and tell them if they don’t want to vote for Stephanie, why they should.”

Miner’s campaign manager, Dan McNally, noted how important their efforts were to the campaign.

“They took the initiative to reach out to the campaign, they formed their own political PAC, they organized themselves, they folded in seamlessly with our operation,” McNally said. “I can’t stress how much they have been helpful to us.”

After Miner’s victory speech at the Sheraton, the handful of College Democrats at the reception cheered and looked forward to working with her during her term as mayor.

“I’m ecstatic,” Rapone said. “All of our hard work, all of our volunteers’ hard work, paid off. I really think she’s going to bring Syracuse back to where it should be. Whenever she needs anything, we’ll be there.”

“I think she’s going to do an amazing job and I have total confidence in her,” College Democrats State Representative Emily Becker said. “I hope the College Democrats are able to work with her in the future.”

Off campus partying during Mayfest raises concerns for student safety

Students at Syracuse University were shocked to hear that the university tradition Mayfest will now be held on a day of regular classes. A day meant to celebrate of student achievement has become an off-campus drinking party for a lot of students. At the Spaghetti Supper at Our Lady of Pompei School, mayoral candidate Otis Jennings was asked his opinion on Mayfest.


“I’m all about young people but I’m all about safety at the same time,” Jennings said.


Jennings says it is critical that the university keep the event as long as changes are made to help improve student safety. He said Mayfest would be safer if it were located at Walnut Park where the alcohol consumption can be controlled.


Jennings says he would create a fair-type atmosphere in order to distract students from solely spending their time drinking. He suggested adding more activities for students to participate in, such as bounce houses and dunk tanks, to help change the community’s negative outlook on the event as well as providing other sources of entertainment for students.


Chief of SU's Department of Public Safety Tony Callisto disagrees. Castillo explained there was minimal involvement from students in the activities that were provided in last year’s Mayfest. He says the change of location and the additional activities will not draw students away from drinking.


“Anytime you get three thousand people together and there is alcohol involved there is danger. We [Department of Public Safety] prefer that a several long block party does not occur because no good can come from it,” Callisto said.

Miner Elected First Female Mayor of Syracuse

Syracuse voters elected Democrat Stephanie Miner as the 53rd Mayor of Syracuse Tuesday over Republican Steve Kimatian and Conservative Party candidate Otis Jennings. Miner, a member of the Syracuse Common Council, will be the first woman to serve as Mayor of Syracuse.

“Stephanie knows what is needed to run this city,” former Syracuse Common Councilor Mike Atkins, who served with Miner on the Common Council for two years, said. “She’s got eight years of experience in the Common Council, that’s a good prerequisite.”

The unofficial election night returns showed that Miner received 50 percent of the vote while Kimatian received 39 percent and Jennings received ten percent.

"We've elected not only the first woman mayor in Syracuse, but the first woman mayor in any major city in New York state," Onondaga County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Diane Dwire said to Democrats gathered at the Regency Ballroom at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel.

Miner thanked all women who, at one point in their lives, encouraged younger girls to go into politics.

“This is a historic, significant night for Syracuse,” Tom Young, former Syracuse Mayor, said during his introduction of the city’s first female Mayor-elect.

Miner praised her supporters for volunteering their time and promised the people of Syracuse pride in the new mayoral administration.

"I have learned first hand that anything worth doing, you can't do alone," Miner said during her acceptance speech. "We have a fantastic city filled with people who care deeply about it."

Kuehner Reaches Out With Online Campaign

Kevin Kuehner, an adjunct professor in the College of Arts & Sciences at Syracuse University, is hoping to win in Onondaga County’s 16^th district by reaching out to student voters through online electronic media.

"It's a total revolution," Kuehner said. “Everything is different."

After losing to long-time incumbent Democrat Sam Laguzza in 2005 and 2007, Kuehner, 35, decided he would try a different approach toward campaigning in the 16^th district, which includes most of Syracuse University and the University neighborhood.

"Every election dramatically affects your life," Kuehner said. "The younger generation should to a better job than the generations before them."

Kuehner launched a Facebook group, a Twitter page, and an interactive Web site aimed at registering students to vote and recruiting volunteers to help his campaign.

“It’s becoming more of a requirement to reach out through electronic means and to use social networking sites,” Kuehner said.

Onondaga County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Diane Dwire says although technology will have to play a bigger role in upcoming elections, part of the population still prefers to see candidates in the flesh.

“There is still an older generation that isn’t into computers,” Dwire said. “People still pay attention to print media and want to meet face-to-face.”

As veteran politicians worked the floor at the traditional Spaghetti Supper at Our Lady of Pompei School on election day, Kuehner sat among the crowd, updating his Facebook status from his BlackBerry to let his friends know that he would be at Varsity Pizza giving out a free slice to any student who voted.

“I try to explain to students that not being involved is one of the worst things you can do,” Kuehner said.

Stephanie Miner Elected Mayor of Syracuse

Stephanie Miner is the new mayor-elect of Syracuse. By 10:40 the unofficial results were in and had Miner receiving 50 percent of the vote. This makes Miner the first women mayor in Syracuse, and any other major city in New York.
Miner won easily, Republican candidate Steve Kimatian coming in second with just under 40 percent of the vote and Conservative candidate Otis Jennings getting just over ten percent of the vote.

In her acceptance speech she thanked the volunteers who put time and effort into her campaign. One of those volunteers was John John Williams III. Williams talked about how Miner was able to mobilize volunteers to go door to door, signing petitions and meeting voters. Williams spoke about Miner with a strong passion proclaiming, “she is the one.”

Williams says Miner will bring change to the Syracuse government comparing her to when Barack Obama became the new president. One could tell change was coming when Miner came out to the song, “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas.

Miner addressed her supporters at the Sheraton Hotel on University Ave.. When she came to the podium the crowd gave her a one minute standing ovation. Miner first thanked her husband Jack Mannion, whose eyes started tearing up. The she thanked her “tremendous army of supporters”. She also thanked all the mothers, aunts and grandmothers who helped pave the road for her.

“I will work hard every day so you can have a mayor and city hall to be proud of,” Miner said.

Spaghetti Supper

Election day means the annual spaghetti supper fundraiser at Cathedral Academy at Our Lady of Pompei on the northside of Syracuse. While serious business is taking place at the polls, the colorful balloons and loud Italian music reveal a much more relaxed atmosphere inside the school cafeteria.

The 60 year-old fundraiser for the school and church has become a social gathering. "This is a place to be seen," said attendee Pat Welch, while enjoying her spaghetti. Welch, wore a white fur hat befitting of any social event. Although she was sitting by herself, Welch seemed happy enjoying her meal.

Like everyone else Joseph Rudy, 94, was laughing and smiling. Rudy has been coming to the fundraiser since its inception. Like most in attendance Rudy was walking around saying hello to old friends and meeting new people.

Rudy began chatting up old friends, including State Supreme Court Justice Michael Hanuszczak. Rudy and Hanuszczak talked about how the fundraiser allowed friends to get together and catch up.

The fundraiser had children and old men like Rudy, bringing several generations together. Politicians managed to put aside their political ideologies and converse with one another.

The friendly feelings meant interaction between politicians and their constituents. While talking to mayoral candidate Otis Jennings, a couple of old ladies walked by. Jennings was quick to say hello and comment on their beauty.

Miner for Mayor: A Woman's Dream Comes True.

By Brenda Leung
November, 03, 2009

Nobody seemed worried about whether Stephanie Miner was going to win. But everybody planned to stick around and to celebrate and hear what she had to say at the Sheraton Hotel Tuesday night.

"She is very bright," media consultant Paul Novak said. "She cares deeply about the city and tries to lead it into a new direction."

"She didn't want to put herself [gender issues] in the center during the campaign because she wanted to focus on the people," said Timothy Jennings-Bey, a member of the Trauma Response Team (newly created to prevent teen violence).

Syracuse University Professor of Religion, Richard Pilgrim also said that Miner wanted people to vote for her of her qualities and personalities but not because she is female.

Democrat Stephanie Miner was announced as the first female Syracuse mayor at 11 p.m. Miner led from the time the first returns came in and won just over 50 percent of the votes to Steve Kimatian's 39 percent and Otis Jennings' ten percent when it was over.

People waited for quite some time before Stephanie Miner calmed the cheering crowds by thanking the support of "temperamental women … and men in love with the temperamental women [as a nod to her husband Jack Mannion]."

Miner has always been criticized as temperamental and confrontational. It was the first time she acknowledged that her being a woman matters.

She promised her people that she would be a mayor they would be proud of and make Syracuse a city of justice, peace, and hope.

Weak Student Turnout at SU's Bird Library

By Brenda Leung
November, 03, 2009

Weak voter turnout at SU’s Bird Library polling place on Election Day made for a significant contrast to the long waiting lines in the Presidential Election last year.

Judith Rooney, 68, closed the curtain, pressed the lever, and opened the curtain; showed a satisfy smile after she voted.

"I live right down the hill. The polling place is very convenient," Rooney said. And this year she didn't have to wait.

Election inspector Joe Fritz estimated that about 80 voters would show up by the time the polls closed and few would be students.

"Well, many of them are from out-of-state areas," Fritz said.

"There are not a lot of students probably because it is just a local election ... like last year, there were 1,000 voters comparing to about 80 voters today," election inspector Susan Greenman said. "Students should definitely be more concerned about the local issues because it does affect them; everything starts with the local government level."

SU senior Matt Cujak voted. "Although many students are from other places; some are simply being ignorant of political issues especially when it comes to a local election like this."

Some students came and were not allowed to vote because they were registered somewhere else or were at the wrong polling place. "A young man from the Erie County was very upset," Fritz said. "We hate to turn those students away."

Election inspectors gave out a few suggestions to increase student votes: non-local student should request for an absentee ballot or re-register their voting districts.

Chancellor Cantor Absent on Election Day

Elections Inspector Susan Greenman sat in her chair at Bird Library on Waverly Avenue at six this morning, waiting for the first voter. "We're open for business," she said. " I predict a few hundred voters at this location." One of the first usually is Syracuse University Chancellor Nancy Cantor. "Quarter after six we should be seeing Nancy," Greenman said. But the Box O'Joe cooled on the refreshment table for half an hour longer before the first voter showed up. It was not Cantor, but Ted Huber of the Westcott area.

Huber was the first voter for the Bird Library polling location on the SU campus. The vote for mayor was the largest issue that drew him to vote early this morning, he said. "I’m a Democrat but I crossed party lines,” Huber said after voting for Otis Jennings. “I wasn't happy with the [Stephanie Miner]." Huber, a veteran, votes in all elections, he said.

Election Inspector Greenman retracted her turnout prediction this morning, as the morning turnout was slower than she had expected. As of seven in the morning, only one other voter had cast his vote in Bird Library with Huber. They had come to vote together. "There probably won't be a lot in this location," Greenman said. "Not for a mayor election. The bigger the election, the bigger the turnout, especially students.”

Chancellor Cantor never did show up. Her office said Cantor was chairing a conference at Howard University and had voted absentee. Most of the other registered voters were just absent for this election.

Pasta and Politicians

Father Paul Angelicchio looked over the crowd in his school's cafeteria and saw harmony. "Here there’s no politics," Angelicchio said of the Our Lady of Pompei annual Election Day Spaghetti Supper that has drawn politicians from both sides of the aisle for 60 years. “Anybody who's anybody in politics comes through here throughout the day,” he said.

“Why does Obama not pray anymore?" Jacques Zenner, a popular Conservative who has run for Syracuse Mayor and the State Assembly joked with County Legislator David Stott (D-Liverpool). "Because he can’t read the teleprompter with his eyes closed!” Stott, who is up for re-election, and Zenner shared a laugh.

Across the room Heather Dougherty and her four year-old daughter Allison, in campaign t-shirts, smiled and socialized at their first Spaghetti Supper. They were there to support their husband/father Republican John Dougherty who was running for the County Legislature for the first time, Heather Dougherty said.

Onondaga Town Supervisor Tom Andino’s son Matt also came out for his first Spaghetti Supper to support his dad. The 25 year-old teacher chatted with his father’s colleagues until his father joked, “he’s not the one running!”

In the back, Joe Zella, of North Syracuse celebrated his 60th Spaghetti Supper selling pull-tabs to fundraise for the parish. “[Politicians] are all buying them but not one has been lucky yet," Zella said. "They’re saving [their luck].”

An Italian duo sang out over the chatter of the cramped cafeteria lined with politicians. Tonight some would celebrate while others were consoled, but this noon they talked and laughed and ate spaghetti.

Few Students Show Up to Vote at S-U's Bird Library

November 3, 2009


Today is Election Day but you wouldn’t know it if you were on the Syracuse University campus this afternoon. A student body which turned out in high numbers for the presidential election last November did not seem as interested in exercising its right to vote in the Syracuse mayoral election this year. Fewer than ten voters entered the two voting booths at Bird Library (right) from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and election inspectors appeared to be trying hard not to doze off.

Sophomore Natalee Fisher was one of the booths' few occupants and noticed the lack of students voting. “I think people don’t vote because they don’t care very much or they’re not aware of the issues or the candidates,” Fisher said.

Syracuse University College Democrats President Kyle Rapone agreed that many students have no interest in the mayoral race among Democrat Stephanie Miner, Republican Steve Kimatian, and Conservative Otis Jennings. “Students don’t understand that it has not a bigger impact, but a huge impact, on us because we’re living here,” Rapone said. “So the mayor does have a big role in our lives but a lot of people just don’t know that.”

Sophomore Jill Feigelman said she did not vote this year because of registration problems but understands the importance of voting. “I think that students forget and young people in general that if we want to change the government we have to go out and vote,” Feigelman said. “A lot of people think everything will change on its own but it won’t so you have to keep voting.”

ESF Grad Rayo Beats Incumbent Heagerty

November 3, 2009

The cheers of Matt Rayo’s (pictured left) family and friends rang out Tuesday night in the nearly empty room at the Republican Election Night party at the OnCenter in Syracuse. Republican Rayo beat Michael Heagerty in the election for Syracuse common councilor in the 1st District. Or rather, Matt Rayo and Michael Heagerty beat Michael Heagerty.

Rayo, 23, is a newcomer to politics in Syracuse. He graduated from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry just last spring.

Heagerty had an advantage as the incumbent. This advantage and his Democratic Party affiliation ought to have been enough for him to secure reelection.

Except Heagerty didn’t get enough signatures to appear as a Democrat on the ballot, and had to settle for the Working Families Party line. This moved his name from the top row of the ballot to the bottom.

Commissioner of the Board of Elections Ed Ryan, D-Syracuse, told reporters a week earlier that he saw it coming. Ryan said Heagerty’s failure to sign his own name to the nominating petition is what cost him the Democratic Party line.

“People tend to vote with their party line,” said Bob Teachout, a Conservative who has run for City Council and State Assembly. He voted for Rayo, who is his neighbor.

In the unofficial vote count Rayo had 1,844 votes and Heagerty had 1,154.

“I think what it showed is that Heagerty, he didn’t really stay on top of the detail and unfortunately it adversely affected him,” said Matt Rayo’s uncle Robert Rayo. “[Heagerty is] certainly a good guy. Matt found a crack in the armor and moved right in.”

Low Voter Turnout at S.U.'s Bird Library

November 3, 2009

Voter turnout was low the first four-and-half hours of Election Day at Bird Library on the Syracuse University campus and election inspectors expected it to stay that way. Election inspectors (pictured right) said the big reason is that it's not a presidential election year and most college students don't care about local elections.

“Students worked for years to get the vote and now they’re not interested,” Norm Keim said. Keim has been an election inspector for 25 years. He is a former film professor at Syracuse University.

Keim said candidates wouldn’t want college students to vote in local elections anyway. Most of them aren’t locals and they have minimal knowledge or even awareness of local politics.

S.U. senior Audra Coulombe said she voted in the 2008 Presidential Election by absentee ballot. Coulombe can’t vote today because she’s registered at home in Southbury, Conn.

“I don’t give time to elections if I don’t have enough knowledge on them to make an educated decision,” Coulombe said.

Only 18 people voted from 6 a.m. when the polls opened until 9:30. Another hour brought just a single additional voter. Election inspector Susan Greenman said "a couple" were SU students. And while Onondaga County has spent millions on new optical scanners, all 19 voters opted for the old-fashioned lever machines.

Although Greenman optimistically referred to the polling place as “busy,” the corner of the library where the two voting machines were set up was deserted except for the four election inspectors as the morning wore on.