Syracuse, N.Y. -- Janet Burman wasn’t planning to run for mayor of Syracuse this year. But the clock was ticking. The city Republican party had no candidate; many wanted to leave the ballot line blank. They liked their chances with incumbent Ben Walsh.
In such a heavily Democratic city, Walsh is an independent who checks some boxes on both sides of the aisle. He’s pro-development. He’s anti-Columbus. He works well with the county’s top Republican, Executive Ryan McMahon, who urged his party not to put up a candidate against Walsh.