With early voting for local primaries beginning Saturday, two Republicans looking to challenge Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh this fall will debate Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. exclusively on Spectrum News 1.
Janet Burman and Thomas Babilon are vying to land on the GOP line for the November election. Primary election day is June 22.
Both Republicans say they hope to change things in the city dominated by Democrats.
Burman says she remembers her first interest in public service came from attending the dedication of the Jerry Rescue Monument in downtown Syracuse about 20 years ago.
In the 1850s, William "Jerry" Henry, a fugitive slave, was arrested. A short time later, a group of Syracuse citizens stormed his jail cell and helped him escape to freedom.
“This also symbolizes to me, unity in our community, which we are lacking right now, something I want to bring about in my mayoral term,” Burman said of the monument and moment some 170 years ago.
What You Need To Know
- Janet Burman says public safety will be her number one priority in office and says people will be able to feel safe
- Equity is the focus for family court attorney Thomas Babilon, who says he’d want to help ensure all people are treated equally
- The winner of this primary election will be on the Republican line in November’s general election, which will feature a Democrat nominee and current Mayor Ben Walsh, who is an independent
However, that’s not her only focus as she runs for this seat. She’s promising, if elected, to place a priority on public safety and a safer Syracuse.
“People will feel safe in their homes," she added. "They will feel safe on the streets. They’ll feel safe in parks and parking lots. They will feel safe in interactions with law enforcement."
Thomas Babilon is also hoping to stamp his ticket to November’s general election. The former criminal defense attorney, now working in family court, says it is pretty clear from both his efforts in the courtroom and talking with the very people he wants to represent what needs to change in Syracuse.
“You cannot treat people unequally and expect to be respected as a government entity,” he said.
Babilon, who also served as an assistant corporation counsel for Syracuse for 10 years, says equality can mean many things, including opportunity, development and treatment from peers, the government, law enforcement and court officials.
It’s also, he says, about not dismantling one’s view point, but rather offering a seat to all.
That includes the debate over the Columbus Monument downtown, which has come under fire with calls to take it down, a move being resisted by others in the community.
Babilon instead offers a different idea: allow another monument right next to it telling a different side to the story.
“History is told from the perspective of the person who writes history," he added. "It’s important to teach children and really everyone that just because it is written in a book, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the end all."
Other issues that will likely be top-of-mind for city voters include the future of I-81, economic development, taxes and job growth.
In addition to Tuesday night's debate, Spectrum News 1 will host a debate between the two Democratic candidates, Khalid Bey and Michael Greene, on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.