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.
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