By Mark David Blum, Esq.

In 2004, I registered as a Democrat for the first time in my life. The singular purpose therefor was to have a say in the then Democratic primary for President. This time around, I so much wanted to register as a Republican for the very same reasons; but I just could not bring myself to register in this County as a Republican. I wish I did as voting for Ron Paul would be an honor.

One of the lessons I learned as Onondaga County Chairperson of the Ross Perot campaign back in 1992 is that there is a general feeling of disgust and frustration in the general population. I am pretty sure that we had more people who signed our lists and petitions than all the registered Republicans and Democrats combined. People came up to me everyday and said, “I support your guy, though I can’t say so publicly.” The rationale they gave was not that they were great Perot fans, but rather that Perot represented the disenfranchised and forgotten voters. His fight was not about a small group of elite continuing in place. The general population wants back in the game. People want options and neither party is responding to them anymore.

When you walk into the voting booth and before you pull that lever, I ask you to do one simple thing. Ask yourself why are you voting for that candidate? Is it because they are the incumbent? An incumbent is the last person you want in the job. Public service is not a career and our nation’s Founders had no desire for or wish that we created ‘career politicians’. Congress and the Presidency were based upon the desire of an individual to take the responsibility for a term and then pass it on. An incumbent should only be re-elected when nobody else will take the job. You can never have fresh ideas or a new approach when the same people are put back in office. Albert Einstein defined “insanity” as doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.

To quote one of our Nation’s Founders and earliest Presidents, “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.” (John Quincy Adams).

Do not vote for a candidate because you ‘think’ they will win. This is not a football game and you are not betting on the winner. No candidate is ahead, has a lock, is winning, or is going to win until the very moment the polls close. Before you flip that switch, regardless of the promises you made to your friends and family … before you flip that switch … did you do it because of party or because you think the candidate is going to win … or did you flip that switch because in your heart, you voted for the person you believe best capable of bringing Onondaga County into the 21st Century and to build a world class legacy for the children of your great grandchildren.

For only the third time in as many years as this County has been in existence, the job of County Executive has opened up. Four have stepped forward; two party nominees and two Primary challengers. Tuesday September 18th is the day that field is narrowed to two.

I have watched the debates, listened to the arguments, and skimmed the junkmail. I have tolerated the fundraising phone calls and the attack police out there anonymously posting on the internet. Upon due deliberation and consideration, I find the current crop of candidates worthless caretakers more focused on personal glory than actual achievement.

Three of the candidates are years long serving legislators and argue this legislative experience prepares them for the Executive office. With due respect, anybody who has been in office more than 5 years I consider to be part of the problem and not part of the solution. This rule especially applies to Bill Magnarelli as he is part of the State legislature and a major player in how business is “done” in Albany. That is not the model we want in place here in Onondaga County. Both Ed Ryan and Dale Sweetland are long serving County Legislators and both have no farther than their own noses to look for the source of the issues plaguing the County.

Last year, when she ran for Mayor of Syracuse, Joanie Mahoney, the other Republican challenger in this year’s County Executive race, threatened to hire 25 more police officers and put them on the streets and proposed to pay for the additional force by taking money away from infrastructure. You do remember “infrastructure” … roads, snowplowing, parking, sewers, utilities … the basic necessities of life. The Mahoney vision for Syracuse was to strip away the real quality of life because she felt the City needs an additional army to combat loud music. Punishing the majority for the sins of the few is offensive. Collective punishment is for prisoners, not free citizens. Yes, people want to be safe on their streets. But of what value is that when the streets are broken, the buildings are in disrepair, and the overall look is downtrodden and sullen. Her dream for Syracuse was dark and bleak. This is what awaits County residents if Ms. Mahoney gets the vote.

All four candidates for office kept saying the same thing: “I have the experience. I want to lead us to a better tomorrow. I am going to bring more jobs and retain local talent. I am going to marry the County with the various universities and let them take the lead in developing new technologies. I am a team player. I want to consolidate.” Not a single one of them offers any real inspiration. Any one of them I am sure would make a good caretaker County Executive and had out patronage jobs to solidify their hold on the office.

My frustration is that not a single candidate has offered up a specific solution to real problems: First, what happens in Syracuse directly impacts me here in Manlius. When the City is mismanaged, Onondaga County and New York State taxpayers come to the City’s rescue. Syracuse has turned into a giant sinkhole that sucks the life out of its citizens and visitors and gives them nothing in return. Parking downtown for 3 hours costs $7.00. Fees and expenses are climbing but nothing new has been built. Whether it is James Street or Salina Street, businesses are closing, dying, leaving nothing but empty shells in their wake. Taxes in the City are appalling and services are not user friendly.

Because the City cannot manage its problems, we County and State taxpayers have to pay for and commit our resources. Utilities costs, roads, parking, entertainment, and shopping bring me into constant contact with the City. How this is all managed or mismanaged impacts me every day. Frankly too, how the City is mismanaged is one way I feed my family. Where is the County leadership that proposes to demand Syracuse clean up its own house before the County helps? All four candidates are pandering to the City instead of holding its feet to the fire.

“Malaise” is the disease that has infected the heart and soul of the region. Whether it is economic, social, educational, or political; the momentum and energy has come to a complete standstill. It matters not whether Democrats or Republicans are in charge as both parties have shown themselves to be the Pied Pipers of Yawn. Each in turn was an excellent manager, had perfect character, and were wonderful human beings.

Destiny? That is neither a new idea nor is it productive. It is going to be a giant footprint on our geography which will crush the backs of the Salina 29, fail as an icon, and turn Onondaga County into nothing more than a bathroom pit-stop. A mall is not the heart and soul of a community. Those who say “yes” are not dreamers. They do not aspire to greatness. Communities that follow along leave a legacy of children aspiring to a life of retail and Starbucks. National retailers that come into the mall will only export our capital out of the community. Shoppers from out of the area will leave a few tax dollars while at the same time filling our sewers with the crap before they hop back on their busses for New York City. Taxpayers are the ones who will pay for the Destiny project.

Crime is a major problem. The incumbent, his predecessor, and the ones before him all promised a magic solution to crime. Whether the abuse of RICO laws to arrest and harass half a community or turning special police squads loose on the community, citizens have been promised safety. Children are still dying … and in greater numbers. Relations between police and the community are at an all time low. Guns? Drugs? Violence? Everywhere.

All that notwithstanding, I just want to meet the “guy”. You know this guy.

Every election season, every candidate barrages the airwaves with commercials, lawns are splattered with signs, billboards, war dialing, junk mail, and one celebrity endorsement after another.

The guy … the undecided voter whose vote is swayed by a lawn sign. “Umm honey, you know this Pavone guy … I was driving home today and I saw about 2,000 of his signs and yaknow, I been thinking … anybody who can get that many lawn signs out must be a heck of a judge. I think I will vote for him.”

What is it about these candidates and the entire electoral process that makes the Parties believe that a lawn sign or ten second commercial or pre-recorded telephone message is going to change a single vote? Has it ever? Is there actually empirical data to show that polluting the airwaves and environment with empty slogans actually helps a voter decide for whom to cast their ballot? Would you want representatives making decisions about your life and death whose ability to get elected is based upon voters whose opinions were swayed by a lawn sign?

So, to whomever you are and wherever you are hiding; to that mystery voter whose decision was made by a lawn sign, telephone recording, or a 5x7 four color glossy postcard mailing “to our friends at” … I really want to meet you. Personally I doubt such a voter exists. But if they do, I bet they would prove Winston Churchill right. “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”