Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney is kicking off her campaign for re-election with an endorsement from a group that doesn’t traditionally back Republicans.
The Alliance Network is a leading Syracuse-area community organization that represents many of Syracuse’s minority interests. It has only endorsed two Republicans in its history, former Rep. Jim Walsh and Mahoney, when she ran for a second term as county executive four years ago.
Mahoney, who’s running for a third term, is again getting support from the network, and its founder, Walt Dixie. He says party labels don’t matter in a day and age when cities are on fire because of strained race relations.
"We’ve got to now fight for our respect in our community. We’ve got to get behind candidates who we feel are genuinely on point with us,” he said.
Dixie cities the county’s new jail oversight committee and changes at the Social Services Department as a couple of reasons he’s supporting the Republican.
“It’s not about D’s and R’s. It’s about the substance of the individual, and the needs of our community,” said Dixie.
Mahoney says it means a lot to start her a re-election bid with this support.
“This is a group that traditionally supports the other party, and I think it’s even more meaningful to see the job that I’ve done, and say we’re with you Joanie, and we would like her to continue in this role.”
This evening Democrats are expected to endorse former Onondaga County sheriff’s deputy Toby Shelley to run against Mahoney in the race for county executive.
