There’s a fresh face in the Onondaga County Legislature. Democrat Jeremiah Thompson has unseated Republican incumbent Colleen Gunnip in the race for the county’s 4th Legislative District.
Thompson, a political newcomer, won with 56% of the vote and 3,400 ballots cast. Gunnip received 44% of the vote with just under 2,700 individual ballots in her favor.
Jeremiah Thompson was previously a Syracuse University writing instructor from Liverpool. He said his campaign focused on connection and conversation, and these are values he plans to carry into office.
“The conversation doesn't stop today. It starts in earnest. I want to meet with people. I want to hear from them, and I want to work for them,” Thompson said. “I want to show them that they can have a government that works for their interests.”
Thompson said much of his preparation came from listening to and meeting residents face-to-face. He estimated he knocked on nearly 1,500 doors while campaigning.
As he prepares to take office, Thompson said his top priorities are being accessible and responsive to community needs, particularly on food insecurity. He pointed to recent concerns over cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and said the county needs to step up where federal aid falls short.
“We have the means to try to fill that gap for people if it's not going to be addressed at the federal level,” Thompson said.
Thompson added that, win or lose, his goal has always been continued public engagement.
“I'm grateful to every person out there, regardless of how you voted, that you came out to the polls,” Thompson said. “Democracy is there if we want it, and we have to show up at the polls and be engaged.”
Thompson is one of a handful of democratic candidates running for Onondaga County Legislature that overturned previously Republican held seats.