Bill MagnarelliBill Magnarelli has been representing the City of Syracuse and other parts of Onondaga County in the New York State Assembly [1] for almost 10 years. Now he's seeking a new post to represent the people of Onondaga County, this time as county executive. NYLCV has endorsed Magnarelli in the past and continues to stand behind him by endorsing him in this election.
In the Assembly, Magnarelli has been a keen supporter of the environment. His track record includes advocating for greater state support for the cleanup of Onondaga Lake [2], biofuel protection and research, and securing $2.33 million to establish the New York Indoor Environmental Quality Center, an independent, not-for-profit corporation for leadership in the emerging field of indoor environmental quality systems. Magnarelli also fought for the Bigger Better Bottle Bill, Community Preservation Act, Clean Water Protection/Flood Prevention Act and Climate Change Solutions Act & Fund.
And as a member of the Assembly's Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry, Magnarelli has sought ways to integrate economic growth with environmental sustainability. He cosponsored the State Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act and the Smart Growth for the New Century Act, which seek to protect and enhance the natural resources by fostering more compact development, downtown revitalization and brownfield redevelopment.
In his campaign for Onondaga County executive, Magnarelli has made the environment a priority. If elected, he plans to continue the efforts to clean up Onondaga Lake, by advocating more funding and repairing old sewer pipes that are contributing to the problem. He also plans to replicate the Assembly smart growth bills on a county level, by enacting policies to spur green building and containing sprawl outside Syracuse. Magnarelli already has a green partner in Syracuse: Mayor Matthew Driscoll [3] is championing a plan for energy conservation that has garnered national attention and made it a model for other cities in New York state.
"I am honored to have the endorsement of the New York League of Conservation Voters in this race. As county executive, I will work with partners throughout the community to remediate and redevelop brownfields, reduce the county's energy consumption, increase usage of renewable energy sources, and make Onondaga Lake a beautiful and clean body of water once again - a place where we can safely swim, fish, boat, and recreate," Magnarelli said. "The New York League of Conservation Voters is an excellent partner in its ability to educate elected officials and the public about environmental concerns, and I look forward to working with them as we move this county forward in a new direction."
His opponent in the November general election will be Republican Joanie Maloney, who defeated Dale Sweetland in the primary. Magnarelli clinched the Democratic nomination in September after defeating Ed Ryan. Nicholas Pirro, a Republican who has been the Onondaga County executive for nearly two decades, is not seeking a sixth term.