Category: Elections 2025

The Post-Standard has an article on the candidates running for Mayor of Syracuse. They were asked this question:

“Mayor Ben Walsh started an office to reduce gun violence during his administration. Would you continue that office as mayor? Why or why not? If you’ll keep it, how would you change it?”

Here are relevant excerpts:

• Thomas Babilon (R): “Syracuse has a problem with violence, not guns … The current efforts of the Office to Reduce Gun Violence are directed at violence prevention and a more appropriate name would be the Office of Community Violence Prevention. Some of the efforts of the office should be applauded … Other aspects of the program are questionable. Especially concerning is its use of “credible messengers” with questionable backgrounds and a lack of training as messengers to our at-risk youth … If it is to be sustained as an independent office of the mayor, its success must be demonstrated. While a version of the office is likely to continue under my administration for the purpose of managing state and federal pass-through grants, at this time the office has been unable to articulate any success that would justify its continued existence in its current for …”
• Pat Hogan (D): “Yes, I would continue the office to reduce gun violence, but I would reshape it to focus more directly on equity, prevention, and community-driven solutions. Gun violence is a public health crisis that we cannot police our way out of. We need to invest in people …”
• Chol Majok (D): “While I respect Mayor Walsh’s intent in creating the Office to Reduce Gun Violence, I will not continue the office in its current form — it will not be housed at City Hall. The strategies used by the current administration have fallen short. We must take a new direction that addresses violence directly and builds real trust and safety in our neighborhoods … My focus will be on measurable outcomes, real accountability, and partnerships that save lives. Rehabilitation services will be offered, but unlike the current administration, they will not be optional. Those who continue to bring violence to our neighborhoods will face strong and consistent consequences … Gun violence is not just a policing issue—it’s a public health and community trauma issue, and we must treat it that way …”
• Sharon Owens (D): “Gun violence is a public health crisis. I won’t just continue the Mayor’s Office to Reduce Gun Violence (MORGV), I’ll make it stronger …”

There is a Democrat primary for the month. As I have frequent said, gun activists must participate in the election process, especially in urban Democrat enclaves. With that in mind, I believe the best choice in the primary is to vote for Majok. In the general, support Babilon.

Three candidates are running in a Democrat primary on June 24 for Mayor of Rochester: Incumbent Mayor Malik Evans, City Councilwoman Mary Lupien and businessman Shashi Sinha.

Here’s what I have on the candidates:

• Malik Evans has a proven record advocating for more gun control. He is unacceptable.
• Mary Lupien has been endorsed by Moms Demand Action.  She is unacceptable.
• Shashi Sinha does not have a public record on the issue. The only thing I could find is this, “… Sinha promised to address crime by refocusing police efforts on “guns, gangs, and violent crime,” …”

This is the material we have to work with. he choice is clear, support Sinha in the primary.

NY1 has an article on the Democrat candidates running for Mayor.

Of note are these people:

“… The local Democratic Party is endorsing current state Sen. Sean Ryan, who has been in the Legislature since 2011 …”

And who has supported pretty much every antigun bill that has come up for a vote.

“… Common Council Member Rasheed Wyatt was often critical of the Brown administration and says he sees more of the same from Scanlon. Wyatt, now in his third term, was a community organizer and advocate prior to entering politics with a background in finance including working roughly 15 years for HSBC bank …”

Wyatt is not supportive of 2A rights:

“… At the same time, city leaders are urging people to get guns off the streets by taking part in the annual no-questions-asked gun buyback program, which just so happens to be scheduled for Saturday. Councilman Wyatt says any gun taken off the streets helps. “At this point in time, any gun that is in the hand of anyone at this point in time needs to be taken off the street because it concerns me that it affects our children at the end,” Wyatt said …”

Plus, “Buffalo Council member calls for city to establish gun violence prevention office.”

“… Former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield worked for the city fire department for nearly 40 years but said, when it comes to city politics, he’s an outsider, which is what he believes residents need. Whitfield became more outspoken as a national advocate for gun reform and victims’ rights after his mother was killed during the May 2022 mass shooting …”

We don’t need more outspoken gun control advocates in government.

The primary is set for June 24. Vote early, vote often, vote 2A. Victory shall be defined as Ryan losing as he has the worst voting record.