Following his tumultuous departure in March from City Hall, former budget director Tim Rudd this week reached a crucial benchmark in his bid to become the next mayor of Syracuse.
Rudd filed paperwork to appear on the mayoral ballot in the November election on an independent line called “Transparency and Accountability.” He submitted 1,717 signatures to Onondaga County Board of Elections, more than the 1,443 required this year to make the independent line.
Supporters of Rudd’s opponents can challenge the validity of those signatures, which would prompt a review by county officials. That process blocked two Democratic mayoral candidates, Alfonso Davis and Jimmy Oliver, from appearing as Democratic candidates, after challenges to their petitions brought them below the 1,000 signature threshold for that party line.
Rudd expects his signatures will be challenged, but is confident his candidacy will survive any possible review – because he collected all but 8 of the signatures himself by knocking on thousands of doors.
“I just spoke to thousands of people on their front steps, and that was an experience that I don’t think anyone else has really had, who seeks public office,” Rudd said. “I don’t know if there’s anything more transparent than a person standing at your front door, introducing yourself, and asking for them to give you a shot.”
Reluctant to provide more details on his campaign, Rudd said he wants to let the Democratic primary race play out before getting specific on issues and policies.
On June 24, Democratic voters will decide between Common Councilors Pat Hogan, Chol Majok, and Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens for their party’s candidate.
Republicans picked Thomas Babilon to run for mayor. No other Republicans stepped up to challenge Babilon.
Rudd said he didn’t feel it was his place right now to go into detail on his conversations with the voters he spoke with.
“I think my campaign begins after the primary,” Rudd said.
Rudd worked as Walsh’s budget director from October 2020 through February 2025. He in 2017 won an at-large seat on the Syracuse Common Council. He twice ran unsuccessful campaigns for a seat on the Onondaga County Legislature.
Walsh fired Rudd after he made racist comments about Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens in social media posts and self-released YouTube videos.
In the YouTube videos, released in February, Rudd criticized the administration’s handling of its payroll modernization project.
After a series of investigative stories by Central Current revealed blunders in the city’s payroll modernization project. A letter written by Rudd was included in one of Central Current’s stories. He in the letter wrote that a city consultant may have committed fraud in its pursuit of a contract to complete the payroll project. In the aftermath of one of Central Current’s stories the city’s then-Chief Administrative Officer Frank Caliva resigned two days after Central Current’s initial reporting.
City officials have acknowledged hiccups in the payroll modernization project but have maintained the city did not commit fraud.
Rudd has argued his firing was retribution for his outspoken criticism of Walsh. He said some voters asked him about his controversial comments.
The former budget director first announced his candidacy in January, in the wake of the payroll modernization problems and before he was fired.
Rudd initially planned to switch party affiliations from Democrat to Republican while insisting he was becoming a “Republican In Name Only” to run for mayor.
The Onondaga County Republican Committee used a rarely used procedure to boot Rudd from the party. They then designated Babilon as its mayoral nominee.
Rudd is the first candidate to file petitions for an independent mayoral line, but he may not be the last. Oliver, Davis and any other potential candidate have until May 27 to file paperwork with the Board of Elections.
“Voters have to hold their electeds accountable,” Rudd said, “and I think a good place to do that’s at the door. And I think any campaign I have will probably have a lot of door knocking.”
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