Sharon Owens becomes city’s first Black mayor-elect: ‘Let’s do this thing, Syracuse’
Sharon Owens made history Tuesday night as she was elected Syracuse’s first Black mayor-elect. At her watch party, supporters danced and cheered as Owens celebrated the city’s milestone and spoke about her vision for Syracuse’s future. Ike Wood | Assistant Photo Editor
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As election results rolled in on a night at Palladian Hall at the Treasury, cheers erupted at Sharon Owens’ Tuesday night watch party when she was historically declared Syracuse’s next mayor.
As Owens took to the stage, she danced to “Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now” by McFadden and Whitehead, emulating the party’s upbeat atmosphere. Currently serving as deputy mayor under current independent Mayor Ben Walsh, Owens is the first Black mayor-elect of Syracuse and the second woman to be elected to the position.
“We recognize the position as Syracuse is about to do. We recognized her hope, we recognized her future. We recognize her destiny,” Owens said. “You saw that vision, and you came out tonight and you voted for that vision.”
Owens gave her victory speech beneath 10 murals at Palladian Hall at the Treasury depicting different moments in the city of Syracuse’s history, a decision she later said was intentional.
“It’s a strategic move, that here we are, the 55th mayor is a Black woman,” Owens said.
It was a hopeful night for Owens, campaigning in a city where 53% of registered voters are Democrats, and receiving 73.5% of the total vote Tuesday night. In her speech, Owens highlighted that the Onondaga Legislature turned blue for the first time in nearly 50 years, thanking her party for its continued support.
In a ballroom packed with politicians, friends and supporters, with the sound of upbeat R&B and pop played by DJ Flagg, attendees crowded as they danced around a big screen displaying the election results.
Ike Wood | Assistant Photo Editor
Sharon Owens made history Tuesday night as she was elected Syracuse’s first Black mayor-elect. At her watch party, supporters danced and cheered as Owens celebrated the city’s milestone and spoke about her vision for Syracuse’s future.
U.S. Rep. John Mannion, who represents New York’s 22nd congressional district including Syracuse, said he attended the watch party to show support for a candidate he’s worked closely with over the years.
Commending Owens’ years as deputy mayor under Walsh, he said her focus on stable housing, public transportation and getting people out of poverty makes her the “best one” for the job.
“Supporting Sharon Owens is easy for me, because I know that she’s never going to stop to try to make this community better in a number of different ways,” Mannion said. “It’s a historic night for Syracuse and this region.”
In her victory speech, Owens also thanked prominent officials who attended, including Walsh, New York State Sen. Rachel May, New York State Sen. Chris Ryan and DeWitt Town Supervisor Max Ruckdeschel.
“These people stuck with me when nobody else did,” Owens said. “These folks created an image and a brand that we stuck with and the virtue and vision for this city.”
Joe Rossi, Owens’ campaign manager, said he expected the deputy mayor would win the election. While he was excited to see the votes come in, he was more excited to witness the city elect its first Black mayor, he said.
“Everyone here is excited for her, and I think she earned the city’s respect,” Rossi said. “We’re just excited to witness history. You never get to witness history twice.”
Throughout the night, Owens shared stories about connecting with community elders who embraced her as a Black woman who understood their experiences.
While not born in Syracuse, Owens was born in Geneva, a town on the northern tip of Seneca Lake, and later attended Syracuse University, graduating in 1985.
“Syracuse, you adopted me. I’m your daughter,” Owens said. “You are my elders, all of you who have met me and said, ‘I walked into a booth today and I voted for a Black woman.’”
Owens ran on a platform focused on improving city housing, further developing Walsh-era projects like Syracuse Surge and building an inclusive economy that supports LGBTQ+ and people of color-owned businesses.
New York College Democrats President Tyler Toledo said he attended the event to show his support for Owens while also advocating for more students to vote in local elections. A supporter of Owens in the Democratic primary, he said she was the only candidate who “truly cares about young people.”
“Her plans for this community go just beyond those that immediately live here, those that are older and have houses and own property here,” Toledo, an SU graduate student, said. “She’s thinking toward the next generation of Syracuse residents.”
Kenneth Lanterman, SU’s Student Government Association’s vice president of government and community affairs, said he was the volunteer coordinator for Owens’ primary campaign in the spring.
Echoing Toledo, he said Owens listens to vulnerable residents — like those affected by the I-81 viaduct project — and is committed to protecting them.
“Sharon understands the best out of all the candidates,” Lanterman said. “Sharon’s that leader, that mom, that shows us, ‘Yes, this is possible.’”
Two of her opponents — Republican Thomas Babilon and independent candidate Alfonso Davis — also held watch parties across the city. Tim Rudd, the other independent candidate, did not host a watch party, opting to watch the results with his family. At the end of the night, Owens confirmed she had not yet spoken to her opponents.
Owens said her plans for the next few months are simple: finish her role as deputy mayor and prepare to fill her seat in January.
“Let’s do this thing, Syracuse,” she said in closing remarks at her victory speech. “Let’s move forward for our future, to maximize the most for our city.”
