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A note from the host regarding the Stephanie Miner/Joanie Mahoney interview

Matt Coulter
/
Syracuse University

After listening to WRVO's Friday news excerpt from the Campbell Conversations interview with Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner and Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney, the Post-Standard's Chris Baker wrote that it embodied a "a more civil approach to the dialogue than previous exchanges."  I want to expand on that impression.  

It's an important point, because the apparent rift over the Inner Harbor development project has raised questions about the relations between the two offices, which will be critical to the future of Central New York--public discussions about different possible regional government arrangements are on the horizon, via the upcoming Consensus report and the fact that a plan to consider alternative governing structures was embedded in the recent $500 million aid package from the state.

With the two executives' permission, I am adding some personal observations from the off-microphone interactions both before and after the interview.  While the two officials had some spirited disagreements during the interview, what I heard--and perhaps more importantly what I saw in the body language--were two leaders with a healthy amount of mutual respect, a clear ability to dialogue, and a willingness to listen.  They seemed comfortable in each other's presence, joked about different topics, asked about families, and otherwise just chatted in a relaxed fashion.  Could they have been putting on a show?  Perhaps.  But I've hosted many election debates in which the candidates attempted to demonstrate a similar ease, yet failed.  I left the interview thinking that the two offices can work together constructively, and that may be the biggest "story" from this particular interview.  --Grant Reeher

Grant Reeher is Director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute and a professor of political science at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He is also creator, host and program director of “The Campbell Conversations” on WRVO, a weekly regional public affairs program featuring extended in-depth interviews with regional and national writers, politicians, activists, public officials, and business professionals.