Garnar Doesn’t Live In Legislative District, Must Resign Now

(BINGHAMTON, NY) – Broome County Republican Chairman Bijoy Datta today called on County Legislator Jason Garnar to resign immediately from his seat because he no longer resides within the District.

In June, Garnar announced that he was moving out of his District and would be resigning later in the year.

“A number of people have reported the Jason Garnar has now moved to his new house outside of this Legislative District,” said Datta. “I congratulate him on the move, but if he doesn’t live in the District today, he should resign today.”

If the resignation were to take place after September 20th, a replacement would not be elected by the people of the District. Instead, Democratic Party political leaders would select a nominee to be appointed by the Legislature until the November 2016 election – meaning that an unelected Legislator would serve for 14 months before ever having to earn a vote.

If the resignation were to take place prior to September 20th, then there would be an election this November where the voters of the District would elect their new Legislator.

“I have a simple question for Jason Garnar: Where did you sleep last night?” remarked Datta.
“If he has moved, it’s just plain wrong that Garnar hasn’t yet resigned,” Datta added. “He’s trying to game the system and deny the people of the District their right to vote for his replacement.”

Aside from calling on Garnar to resign, Datta called on the Broome County Board of Elections as well as the Broome County Board of Ethics to begin an immediate investigation into the question of Garnar’s residence and the timing of his resignation.

“There is a strict set of rules all government officials are expected to follow, and we believe that Mr. Garnar is trying to circumvent those rules,” Datta said.

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REPUBLICANS SELECT FRED AKSHAR AS THEIR CANDIDATE FOR NEW YORK STATE SENATE

(BINGHAMTON, NY) – On Monday, Republican leaders from Broome, Tioga, Chenango and Delaware counties announced Fred Akshar as their candidate for New York State Senate in the November Special Election.

Fred Akshar currently serves as Undersheriff for Broome County and has served the community for 15 years in law enforcement.

“I’ve committed my life to making our community the best it could be,” said Akshar. “The families in our community deserve a strong, energetic voice. I plan to bring the same passion and dedication from my service in law enforcement to the State Senate.”

Akshar started his career as a Road Patrol Officer for the Broome County Sheriff’s Office. He worked his way through the ranks of the Detective Division, eventually spending 5 years in the Undercover Unit. He returned to the Highway Patrol as a Captain where he commanded the Law Enforcement Division. He was appointed to Undersheriff in June. Akshar is also a graduate of the 247th Session of the FBI's National Academy.

"Our local Republican leaders spent many long hours considering dozens of candidates," said Broome County Republican Chairman Bijoy Datta. "It was important to have a thoughtful, deliberative and local process to ensure we delivered the best person to represent our community. We couldn't have found anyone better than Fred Akshar to produce new leadership and fresh ideas in Albany."

“Fred’s not a career politician, but he is a career public servant,” said Broome County Executive Debbie Preston. “He’s a fresh face with energy and passion for the job. He’ll be a great representative for our community and our way of life.”

“In law enforcement, you trust your partners with your life. They trust you with theirs,” said Broome County Sheriff Dave Harder. “ Our community needs a partner we can trust to be there for us. Fred will be there.”

Akshar’s priorities include local workforce investment and job creation for small businesses, investing in Upstate schools and combating the heroin epidemic through increased community support and treatment.

Raised in Afton, NY, Akshar has lived in Colesville for the past 10 years.

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Cornwell Submits Election Petitions, Makes Run for Broome County District Attorney Official

(BINGHAMTON, NY) – Broome County District Attorney candidate Steve Cornwell last week submitted Republican and Conservative Party Designating Petitions to the Broome County Board of Elections, supporting his candidacy for District Attorney.

“It’s been an honor to meet hundreds of Broome County residents over the last several weeks, from Binghamton to Barker, West Endicott to Windsor, and everywhere in between. Our community is tired of the status quo and ready for real leadership and a plan to make our community safer,” said Cornwell.

“I’m thankful to my dedicated team of volunteers who worked so hard to collect signatures and help spread our message,” he added. Broome County residents expect and deserve results that matter, but the current 30-year career politician in the D.A.’s Office, lifetime politician Gerald Mollen, has failed us.”

Cornwell says the heroin epidemic, drug crimes, gangs, violence and deteriorating neighborhoods are among the issues on Broome County resident’s minds this year.

New York State Election Law requires candidates collect petition signatures within their district in order to appear on the ballot.

Cornwell currently owns and operates a private law firm, The Cornwell Law Office; he worked as a Prosecutor in the D.A’s Office from 2007-2009.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd.

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GIOVANNI SCARINGI ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR BINGHAMTON CITY COUNCIL

(BINGHAMTON, NY) -- Giovanni Scaringi announced his candidacy for Binghamton City Council on Wednesday, June 24, 2015, at 12:00PM in front of the Old First Ward Pool on Seymour Avenue, Binghamton, NY 13905. He will be running in District #1, which covers the entire First Ward of the City of Binghamton and Ely Park.

Local officials, neighbors, friends, and supporters were in attendance. Giovanni focused on the necessity of dealing with crime, depleting infrastructure, and jobs.

Giovanni is an Assistant Professor of Economics in the Department of History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences at SUNY Broome.

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Cornwell Launches Campaign For District Attorney To End Status Quo, Fight For Future Of Broome County

(BINGHAMTON, NY) – Local attorney, youth coach and family advocate Steve Cornwell today announced his campaign for Broome County District Attorney. Cornwell made the announcement in front of an enthusiastic crowd of supporters at The Holiday Inn in Downtown Binghamton.

“Broome County needs big changes in the District Attorney’s Office. We need new vision, new ideas and new leadership,” said Cornwell. “I will be a D.A. who will be an advocate for our children and families, and who will fight to keep our community safe against dangerous criminals.”

For the past ten years, Cornwell has practiced Criminal and Family Law at his Binghamton Law firm, the Cornwell Law Office. He also worked as a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office from 2007-2009.

As Broome County’s new District Attorney, Cornwell will focus on:
· Fighting and winning the war on drugs, including our area’s rising heroin epidemic;
· Making Broome County one of the safest counties in New York and a more attractive place to live, work and invest; and
· Reorganizing the D.A.’s Office to become financially efficient and more effective in the courtroom.

“Are you safer than you were four years ago? How about eight years ago? Or even 28 years ago when Gerald Mollen first took office?” added Cornwell. “We need a plan to fight crime in 2015 and beyond, not a plan from 1987 when Mollen was elected. I have the solutions for today; he is yesterday. You can't solve 21st century problems, with a 20th century politician and no plan.”

Recently retired Broome County Sheriff’s Detective Sergeant Jason Ellis introduced Cornwell. “Our local law enforcement agencies needs a partner who won’t make plea bargains for dangerous criminals standard operating procedure,” said Ellis. “Police Officers are doing their jobs, risking their lives, and taking the bad guys off the streets. We need a D.A. who will fight just as hard. Steve Cornwell has the leadership, integrity and passion to get the job done.”

“During my career I’ve represented many Broome County residents so I have firsthand knowledge of the serious issues plaguing our community,” added Cornwell. “They’re afraid to leave their homes at night, families are scaredto let their children play outside, our seniors are being scammed and taken advantage of. The Sheriff’s Office and Police Departments are working hard to fight it, but the business-as-usual mentality in the D.A.’s Office is devastating our community and hurting our most vulnerable residents.”

Cornwell is a graduate of SUNY Broome, Syracuse University and Syracuse University College of Law.

Cornwell enjoys the outdoors, hunting, fishing and sports. For over a decade he has coached youth baseball inBinghamton, Johnson City and Endicott. He lives in Endicott with his wife Michelle; they have seven children.

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PAPASTRAT TO ANNOUNCE CAMPAIGN FOR RE-ELECTION

(BINGHAMTON, NY) – Binghamton City Councilman Chris Papastrat will seek re-election for the 5th District Council seat in November.  Papastrat will make the announcement at 1:00pm, on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015, at the Park Diner on Conklin Avenue, in Binghamton.

“Four years ago, Binghamton residents sent me back to City Hall for a reason; now we are working hard, listening to all residents and delivering for our constituents,” said Papastrat. “It’s a great honor to serve the residents of the 5th District on City Council; that honor comes with great responsibility – we’ve made a lot of progress -- but there is much more work to be done, as we help our growing City reach its potential.”

Papastrat’s continued goals for the 5th District and City include increased public safety, more infrastructure improvements, stabilizing the tax base, expanding business opportunities and jobs, and providing excellent constituent services.

Papastrat is currently City Council’s Minority Leader; he also serves on the Finance and Employees committees.  He is a member of the Binghamton Local Development Corporation, Broome County Land Bank, and former long-term member and Chairman of the City’s Planning Commission.

Papastrat is a lifelong resident of Binghamton.  For nearly 40 years he and his brother have owned and operated the Park Diner restaurant. When a devastating fire destroyed the restaurant in 1999, they rebuilt and re-opened for business, showing their continued commitment to the City of Binghamton.

Papastrat, a Republican, first served on City Council from 2004-2008; he was re-elected to City Council in 2011.

Papastrat and his wife, Crystal, live on Lennox Drive; they have three children.

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Businessman & West Side Resident Josh Miller Announces Campaign For City Council

(BINGHAMTON, NY) – Local businessman and West side resident Josh Miller today announced his campaign for Binghamton City Council. Miller made the announcement joined by his family at their Lathrop Avenue home in the City’s Third District.

“Binghamton is on the verge of a tremendous comeback; we are finally headed in the right direction,”said Miller. “There is more work to be done, but I’m confident with my business background, leadership skills and deep roots in our community, I can help make the positive changes we need in the Third District and throughout Binghamton.”

For 17 years Miller has been employed by the Miller Motor Car Corporation in Vestal, where he is currently the Business Manager.

“Having lived, worked and volunteered in our community for so long, I’ve had the pleasure to meet and speak with thousands of local residents,” said Miller. “I know our community’s strengths, I recognize areas in need of improvement, and I feel I have the necessary skills to move Binghamton forward.”

Miller says he will use his background in business to help further develop job opportunities and grow the local economy. Crime, infrastructure improvements, and continuing to preserve the history of the Third District while embracing students and landlords as Binghamton University continues to grow, are among his goals.

Miller is actively involved in the United Way of Broome County and is a past Board Member of the Tri-Cities Opera and Binghamton University Athletic Club. He is a supporter of Roberson Museum and Science Center and the UHS Foundation.

Miller, a Republican, is married with three children. His wife, Heather, is an attorney for United Health Services. He is a graduate of Syracuse University.

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