While Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner is busy rallying Democrats across New York state as part of her role as co-chair of the New York State Democratic Party, one Syracuse Democrat is accusing her of dividing the party in her hometown.
Common Councilor Lance Denno is one of two incumbent lawmakers who didn't get an endorsement for reelection from the city's Democrat committee earlier this month. He claims that Miner manipulated the committee process leading to the endorsement of two other candidates, which he says ultimately took political decisions from the hands of voters. And he believes it's left the party more divided now than he's ever seen it.
"I would say certainly more so as a result of these actions two weeks ago, than at any time I've been aware of. It's significant," Denno said.
Miner disagrees that the party is fractured.
"The Democrat party has endorsed me to run for reelection overwhelmingly. I was notified this week that I would be 'Democrat of the Year' for Onondaga County. How other people spin their records to make a case for themselves is their own business," said the mayor, who is running for reelection this year.
Denno sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to express dissatisfaction with Miner and has also stepped down as majority leader of the Common Council. At-Large Councilor Jean Kessner was the other sitting lawmaker who wasn't endorsed by the party for her reelection bid.
