Nick Paro, pictured, declined to respond to Central Current's policy questionnaire ahead of his race for New York State Senate. Credit: Courtesy of Paro for the People, Nick Paro's campaign.

To read more about Nick Paro’s opponent, Chris Ryan, click here. 

To read more of Central Current’s 2024 election coverage, learn how to register to vote and more, click here.

Each election season, Central Current publishes question-and-answer stories with each candidate in the races it covers.

For the first time since Central Current first began publishing in June of 2022, a candidate turned down the publication’s request to learn more about how the candidate sees critical issues that will shape the future of Central New York.

Republican Nick Paro, Salina Town Supervisor, is a candidate in the New York State Senate’s 50th District, one of the most competitive in the region. Paro formally turned down Central Current’s request through campaign manager Liam O’Connor after O’Connor twice promised to return the questionnaire.

If elected, Paro will have to answer to Central New Yorkers, and he will likely have to answer the questions Central Current posed to him — whether in person, via email, by phone or through his votes at the Legislature.

Central Current posed similar questions to every other state Legislature candidate. They answered them.

Central Current publishes Q&As to get a candidate’s unvarnished thoughts on particular policy questions.

Central Current’s questions included:

  • What’s one thing you plan to do if elected to help bring Micron to fruition?
  • What’s one thing you plan to do to make Micron a boon for everyone?
  • Should Micron be unionized?
    Since the law was changed in 2019, Raise the Age has become a lightning rod topic. Do you think it should change? What should change about it?
  • Do you think New York State has enough tools to boost affordable housing? How would you add to those tools?
  • Do you support the right to counsel in housing court?
  • Do you support the Equal Rights Amendment? Do you support codifying abortion rights?
  • What would you do to fight energy rate hikes affecting working families?
  • How will you make sure that taking construction on the Interstate 81 viaduct doesn’t worsen health outcomes for residents that live near it? 

Paro has so far only been forced to give vague answers on immigration, the teardown of the I-81 viaduct and crime. One profile of Paro focused almost exclusively on an effort by the Republican candidate to prevent migrants from being bused to Central New York.

Paro will face decisions that go beyond I-81, immigration and crime if he’s elected. Some of those issues are covered in Central Current’s questions.

It’s likely tenants’ right to counsel in landlord-tenant court will be considered during next year’s budget session. He will have to consider creative solutions on environmental and workforce issues around Micron. He will have to consider how to best incentivize building housing in Central New York that is affordable.

If elected, Paro and his office will also have to answer your questions at town halls, via emails and over the phone.

On Wednesday, contributor Eddie Velazquez asked O’Connor for an explanation for why Paro turned down the chance to tell Central New Yorkers more about how he would tackle key issues.

O’Connor avoided answering the question in an email.

Instead, he pointed readers to Paro’s campaign website.

Early voting begins Oct. 26, which is also the deadline for voters to register to vote. Election Day is Nov. 5.

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Chris Libonati is the managing editor of Central Current. He is a founding editorial member of the organization and was hired as Central Current's first reporter. He previously worked at the Syracuse Post-Standard...