Central Current reporters have for weeks conducted policy-based question-and-answer style interviews with candidates who wish to be mayor of Syracuse, Onondaga County legislators and city councilors.
We’ve put our resulting efforts below. Because we believe all candidates should have to answer community questions, we also sent questions to candidates who are running in uncontested races. Those candidates have been marked below as running unopposed.
We hope the guide below helps you stay informed about the people who want to represent you in local government. Along with the interviews, our guide includes information on voter registration and polling locations.
The guide will be updated as more Q&As are posted by Central Current.
Central Current’s election coverage is supported in part by a grant from the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York.
Syracuse mayoral candidate Q&As
Watch Central Current’s 2025 Syracuse mayoral forum
The candidates talked about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the redevelopment of Syracuse’s public housing stock and more.
2025 election Q&A: Syracuse mayoral candidate Tom Babilon
Republican candidate Tom Babilon takes on Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens, independent candidate Tim Rudd and independent candidate Alfonso Davis.
2025 election Q&A: Syracuse mayoral candidate Alfonso Davis
Independent candidate Alfonso Davis takes on Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens, Republican Thomas Babilon and independent candidate Tim Rudd.
2025 election Q&A: Syracuse mayoral candidate Sharon Owens
Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens takes on Republican Thomas Babilon as well as independent candidates Tim Rudd and Alfonso Davis in the race to be Syracuse’s mayor.
2025 election Q&A: Syracuse mayoral candidate Tim Rudd
Independent candidate Tim Rudd takes on Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens, Republican Thomas Babilon and independent candidate Alfonso Davis.
Syracuse mayoral candidates on I-81, redevelopment of public housing
Contested Onondaga County Legislature races
Incumbents’ names are italicized. Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name. Colleen Gunnip, David Carnie and Shawn Fiato declined to participate in Central Current’s Q&A series.
4th District: Colleen Gunnip (R) vs. Jeremiah Thompson (D)
5th District: Ellen Block (D) vs. David Carnie (R)
6th District: Julie Abbott (R) vs. Gregory Eriksen (D)
8th District: Shawn Fiato (R) vs. Chad Ryan (D)
9th District: Kenyata Calloway vs. Bonnke Sekarore (R) vs. Nicole Watts
10th District: Elaine Denton (D) vs. Mark Olson (R)
Uncontested Onondaga County Legislature races
1st District: Brian May (R)
2nd District: Kevin Meaker (R)
3rd District: Tim Burtis (R)
7th District: Dan Romeo (D)
11th District: Rich McCarron (R)
12th District: David Knapp (R)
13th District: Ken Bush Jr. (R)
14th District: Cody Kelly (R)
15th District: Maurice “Mo” Brown (D)
16th District: Charles Garland (D)
17th District: Nodesia Hernandez (D)
Syracuse Common Council
All races are uncontested. Incumbents’ names are italicized. Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name.
At-large (pick two): Rasheada Caldwell (D), Hanah Ehrenreich (D)
1st District: Marty Nave (D)
2nd District: Donna Moore (D)
3rd District: Corey Williams (D)
4th District: Patrona Jones-Rowser (D)
5th District: Jimmy Monto (D)
President: Rita Paniagua (D)
Dates, deadlines, and resources for the Nov. 4th election
Register to vote: To vote in the 2025 general election, you must submit your registration application by October 25th, 2025.
It is also the deadline by which you must request a mail-in ballot in order to ensure that you will receive your ballot ahead of election day.
Early voting for the general election: October 25, 2025 – November 2, 2025.
General election: November 4th, 2025
Explore the map below or visit the Onondaga County Board of Elections website for times and polling locations.
Read more of Central Current’s coverage
Democratic county legislators appoint Nicole Watts chair of the legislature — but not without drama
Before the session, the Republican caucus sent out a press release accusing the Democratic appointments of signaling “far left chaos.”
Sean Kirst: A reflective ‘Mr. 1946,’ point man as ‘Baby Boomers’ reach their 80s, appreciates why Bills took all-or-nothing chance
Despite a cancer diagnosis that he tries to take in stride, Al Nachreiner looks back on his life and says: ‘I’m happy.’
Will New York state legislators bring New York For All to a vote?
State Democrats say New York For All could blunt parts of Trump’s deportation agenda — but in five years they’ve never brought the legislation to a vote.
Sean Kirst: A ‘Resolution Run’ with New Year’s chance to light candle for young readers
A fitting opportunity to honor Eric Carle, a Syracuse-born children’s literature legend.
Sean Kirst: Ben Walsh sometimes made choices in reverse of his mayoral ‘grampa,’ but believes higher goals bind them still
Separated by 60 years, Bill Walsh and his grandson Ben had different City Hall visions of growth and planning — but identical visions of service, the mayor says.