The lone Republican on Syracuse’s Common Council is the latest candidate to announce plans to run for the 50th State Senate district seat that's being vacated by longtime State Sen. John DeFrancisco (R-Syracuse).
Surrounded by family and friends in front of the family business, Joe Carni said he has unique qualifications that make him the best candidate for the job.
"I’m young, I’m enthusiastic, I’m a hard worker, and the biggest thing that I think I do is I work across the aisle and I work with everybody," Carni said. "If we have ten issues, I’d rather focus on the five we see eye to eye on and not the five we disagree on.”
Carni, who has spent two terms working with a Democratic Council, says his job now is to try to get enough support from members of the Republican committees in Onondaga and Cayuga counties to win the party nomination.
"I’ve gone around and so far it’s been a good response," Carni said. "Obviously there are candidates who are out and probably a couple more to come that haven’t announced yet. But I’m hopeful for my chances in this.”
On the Republican side, Onondaga County Comptroller Bob Antonacci and Town of Van Buren Board Member Rick Zaccaria have announced they are running. Democrats are supporting West Genesee Biology teacher John Mannion.
