Ryan McMahon (R)
Syracuse City Councilor
Age: 28

Many Syracuse students come from far away and leave after graduation, and of those who stay in the area, most soon move to the suburbs. Ryan McMahon, defying all trends,  chose to stay in Syracuse and begin a career in politics. After narrowly losing an open race in 2003, McMahon captured the seat in 2005 and held on to it in the 2007 elections.

But McMahon stands out more as a Republican representing one of the most Democratic districts in Syracuse, a city where Republicans are always rare. He is now the Council's minority leader.

Passionate about neighborhood issues in his district, he is also very concerned with the issues ahead of him in his second year as council finance chair. Keeping budget growth at the rate of inflation is his top priority, he said.
He recently passed legislation which would give tax breaks to new developers for new buildings constructed to LEED standards. The proposal awaits state approval.

When Rep. James Walsh (R-Wayne/Onondaga) announced his retirement, McMahon quickly expressed interest in the seat. While he said he thought the race was winnable, he decided that the time away from his 6-month-old son was not worth the race. McMahon clearly remains interested in higher office, which may draw him into a race even before term limits will force him off the council in 2013.

"The next step has to be where I would have a greater impact than I am having now," McMahon said. "I think Albany is broke and dysfunctional and I see the impact of that dysfunction. If the timing was different, I would be going full-blown for the congressional seat."

What is your biggest accomplishment in office so far? "What I am most proud of is what I have done in the neighborhoods-securing dollars to go to housing, neighborhood improvements and more police presence."

What do you want to accomplish in the next two years, governmentally and politically? "I would like to see the work we've done in the neighborhoods completed. Some are in the infant stages and I want to see them completed before planning more. I would like to keep stewarding the city's finances."

What are the top challenges facing New York State right now? Taxes, unfriendly business environment, high cost of energy.





Dan Schuster (D)
Cayuga County Legislator
Age: 28

A bachelor's degree in Astrophysics may be an unlikely jumping pad for a county legislator in an Upstate county who is focused on economic and tourism issues. But Dan Schuster has made it work. With an undergraduate degree from the University of Montana and a graduate degree with SUNY Brockport, Schuster returned to his hometown of Auburn on a mission to rejuvenate the region's economy.

Schuster jumped into the legislative race in 2005 after seeing a small district where a candidate with a small budget could easily win. While a Democrat in a heavily Democratic district, Schuster is in the minority in the county legislature, in which rural Republicans outnumber Auburn Democrats.

Professionally, he is the head of Auburn's business improvement district, while in the legislature Schuster chairs the economic development committee, along with the board of the county's power agency.

In office, Schuster has concentrated his efforts on increasing tourism to the county, which sits in the Finger Lakes region of the state. He led an effort to increase the county's bed tax, dedicating the funds to increased tourism promotion programs. Schuster is also working on a program to convert excess manure from the county's dairy farms into a renewable energy source, and selling the energy to residents and to businesses relocating to a county business park.

"In our area the population is pretty stagnant, so it's always difficult to rely on the residents to provide revenue for the government," he said.

Though Schuster said he is undecided on whether to seek a second term next year, he has given some thought to a higher office. While not commenting on what office this could be, he stressed that this run, if it comes, is still a few years down the road.

What is your biggest accomplishment in office so far? "Getting the bed tax passed."

What do you want to accomplish in the next two years, governmentally and politically? "I am working on a renewable energy program and I am hoping to get funding to push for that."

What are the top challenges facing New York State right now? Cost of doing business in the state, cost of energy.



David Valesky
State Senator
Age: 42

David Valesky's 2004 victory over 10-term incumbent Republican Nancy Larraine Hoffmann is cited as the beginning of the Senate Democrats march for the majority-a campaign they hope to conclude this year. A former community television host, Valesky saw the 2004 race as providing an opening to gain entry into government.

Like most Senate Democrats elected after 2000, Valesky has made institutional reform a key part of his platform, calling for more openness in Senate operations and floor proceedings. The most rural Senate Democrat until Darrel Aubertine (D-Oswego/Jefferson/St. Lawrence) was elected, Valesky has been trying to educate his mostly urban conference colleagues in the world of farming.

"Last summer we had a two-day farm tour in Madison County," he said. "We had a Dozen downstate colleagues come here, where we did a tour of family farms and agriculture facilities."

He cites his summer farm tour as one way he has been trying to grow awareness of Upstate issues for downstate senators. A common Upstate worry is that a Democratic Senate will ignore Upstate issues, something Valesky believes will not happen.

Outside of work on Senate reform and Upstate issues, Valesky takes the most pride in his constituent service work, an area where a minority senator can excel. After narrowly unseating Hoffmann in a three-way race, Valesky was Bruno's top target in 2006. He easily beat then-Assembly Member Jeff Brown (R). He does not have a major challenger this year.

What is your biggest accomplishment in office so far? "I have made it the highest priority to provide the best constituent services and to be as visible and accessible as possible to my constituents."

What do you want to accomplish in the next two years, governmentally and politically? "We have made some steps in openness and transparency in government, but clearly we have a ways to go. That will be at the forefront from a process perspective. From a policy perspective, we need to do more on economic development across Upstate and reduce the burden of property taxes on homeowners."

What are the top challenges facing New York State right now? The fiscal situation of the state.




Stephanie Miner (D)
President Pro Tempore
Syracuse Common Council
Age: 38

Though she is coming to the end of her second term-limited term on the Syracuse City Council, Stephanie Miner shows no signs of stopping her work in the public arena. The winner of two citywide campaigns, Miner's name keeps being mentioned as possibility for a run for higher office in the 2009 elections.

Following a six-year stint reforming the city budget, and restructuring city debt as the Council's finance chair, Miner became education chair last year. She talks passionately about reforming the city school system, and proudly cites her work bringing in the Say Yes to Education Foundation, which helps provide after-school services and tutoring to inner city students to enhance their college prospects. She has also been working to bring social services into the schools in order to assist students.

"We have an opportunity to make positive radical change," Miner said of her education agenda.

Outside of education and the city's finances, Miner, like many Upstate politicians, has been focusing on economic development. She has been calling for a major change in state economic development policy, calling for large-scale programs for cities to replace tax credits to developers.

Her tackling of the often thorny subjects of the budget and school reform has led Miner to be mentioned as a potential successor to term-limited Mayor Matt Driscoll (D) next year. While not admitting to a mayoral run, Miner, who talks about various policy areas in terms of long-term goals, does not deny that she has her eyes on Syracuse's top job.

"It's been a tremendous opportunity to serve the people of Syracuse," she said. "I've enjoyed it tremendously and I will pursue all the opportunities I have in the future."

What is your biggest accomplishment in office so far? "Voting to give the Say Yes to Education Foundation a million dollars. This put the city's stake in the ground and we need change. This is the best change to give real effective change."

What do you want to accomplish in the next two years, governmentally and politically? "Continue to advocate for the economy and continue to point out that we need different and new ideas-the ones urged for the last 10 years have not worked for Upstate."

What are the top challenges facing New York State right now? "Getting the state's finances in order, controlling property taxes, improving the Upstate economy, and tackling the lack of accountability in Albany."