A long-time Onondaga County legislator made it official Tuesday that he’s running for county executive. Democrat Bill Kinne hopes his more than 30 years of public service will resonate with enough voters to help him unseat Republican Ryan McMahon.
Kinne made his announcement to a group of more than 50 supporters at the Valley American Legion in his legislative district.
“With faith in this community, with faith in our county's public servants, faith in our economy, faith in our democracy, I announce to you today that I am running for a Onondaga County Executive," Kinne told the group.
Kinne immediately drew a stark contrast between himself as a dedicated public servant and McMahon, whom he describes as a self-serving politician.
“When I see the toxic work environment created in the county, the understaffed departments, the burned out employees," he began. "When I see our union employees, public servants disrespected, while Ryan hires more county legislators for high paying management jobs so that he can appoint the replacements, it is obvious to me that we can do much better.”
Kinne also blames McMahon for gerrymandering the legislature’s district maps and rushing through an $85 million aquarium. He says McMahon didn’t properly vet the project’s cost or consider residents’ concerns.
“He couldn't make the case for the aquarium, but he still went ahead with it," Kinne said. "If I can't make the case for something, then shame on me. I've got to present the facts. Whether you're Republican, Independent, Democrat, you have to listen to the voters, and that has not happened.”
Kinne acknowledges it’ll be an uphill battle to overcome McMahon’s significant financial advantage. But Kinne says people of all political stripes know he will bring honesty, integrity and respect to the office.
