Two front runners have emerged in the race for Syracuse mayor, according to Spectrum News’ exclusive Siena Research Institute poll.

Democrat Juanita Perez Williams was in the lead with 35 percent, but not far behind her was Ben Walsh on the Independence Party line with 28 percent.

Rounding out third and fourth of candidates actively campaigning are Republican Laura Lavine with nine percent and Green Party Candidate Howie Hawkins who had five percent. Fourteen percent still did not know who they would vote for.

"What we see is that Democrats are overwhelmingly with Perez Williams. Interestingly, Republicans put their party's candidate in second place. Right now, leading among Republicans is Ben Walsh, the former congressman's son," said pollster Steven Greenberg.

Lavine, who is the Republican candidate, is seven points behind Walsh among Republicans. Walsh also has the most support from Independent voters than any other candidate with 45 percent.

When it comes to gender, Perez Williams and Walsh are tied among men with 32 percent. Perez Williams has a 13 point lead with women voters.

Lavine is at 12 percent with men and seven percent women. Hawkins polled at six percent men and five percent women. And there is a big racial disparity in this race: 68 percent of black voters are with Perez Williams; 37 percent of white voters are with Ben Walsh.

Of the 14 percent of undecided voters, 11 percent were male, 16 percent female, 12 percent were Democrats, 10 percent were Republicans and 14 percent were Independent.

For more information about the poll, visit www.siena.edu.