Republican Candidates

   Colleen Gunnip’s term began in January of 2022 after a successful campaign for County Legislature in 2021. Colleen has over 40 years of government experience and before her time on the Legislature, Colleen was a Town Councilor and Town Supervisor in the Town of Salina. Colleen is no stranger to County government either. She spent 14 years in administrative roles with the Department of Social Services, Department of Transportation and was an Assistant Clerk on the Legislative staff. Her extensive understanding of county government helped guide decisions when she was Chair of the Health & Human Services Committee. She currently serves as Chair of the Legislature’s Ways & Means Committee. 

David Carnie – District 5 – David Carnie joined the Salina Town Board in 2020, bringing five years of experience from the town level to the county.  David Carnie has specialized in commercial real estate services for more than 12 years and has been with Pyramid Brokerage Company since 2013. Starting as a Real Estate Salesperson and currently as an Associate Real Estate Broker since 2017. In 2021, David earned his CCIM designation as a Certified Commercial Investment Member and is active in the Upstate NY chapter.  He is a lifelong parishioner of Saint Daniel parish in Lyncourt where he served on the Pastoral Council and is active in the Lyncourt Neighborhood Watch.  He is a father of two sons aged 27 and 25.  When not working he enjoys spending time with family, going golfing, and strength training.

 Julie is a former TV News Anchor, passionate advocate, community leader, and most importantly to her: the mother of 5 boys currently working as a Real Estate agent with Howard Hanna Realty. As the Onondaga County Legislator representing District 6 for over 7 years, Julie has championed millions of dollars in funding for updating our village centers, supporting global investment in the historic Micron Technologies development, investing in small business including agri-tourism, and expanding efforts to preserve our drinking water and natural resources. Julie successfully advocated to continue lowering our tax rates while investing in what's important to our communities: housing, schools, safety, seniors, parks, green spaces, & qualities of life.

Julie serves as Chair of the Environmental Protection Committee and as a member of the Legislature's Ways & Means committee. She sits on many boards that perfectly position her to connect resources with the needs and trajectories of her communities: Central New York Regional Planning & Development Board, Economic Opportunity Fund Committee, Agri-tourism Grant committee, the County's Council for Environmental Health & Climate Smart Communities Task Force, the County Aquarium's Foundation Board of Directors, to name a few. Julie was also elected to the Skaneateles School Board of Education where she served as Vice President for several terms. Her laser sharp focus on children's education continues at the forefront of her advocacy efforts.

Whether it's investing in our children or our infrastructure, she believes we have a responsibility to make decisions based on what is best for the next generation. Onondaga County is a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family and Julie looks forward to working with her colleagues in the County Legislature to make it even better.

   Shawn Fiato was appointed to the Legislature in January 2025 by County Executive Ryan McMahon.  She is a life-long Syracuse resident.  Shawn has resided in the Park Avenue neighborhood for nearly 40 years.  Shawn and her husband started the Park Avenue Neighborhood Association more than 20 years ago.  As a community advocate, she is excited to work with the residents in the district that she now represents, including Tipperary Hill, the Park Avenue neighborhood, and sections of Strathmore, downtown and the Near Westside, as well as a part of the Town of Geddes.  She is currently serving on the Planning & Economic Development and Public Safety committees which will help her address crime and quality of life issues in her district to attract investment for neighborhood revitalization and opportunities for all. 

Bonnke Sekarore, came to America as a refugee from the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) when he was a young child. He had spent the age 7-10 living in a tent at a UN Refugee Camp in Burundi, fleeing violent and genocidal persecution. 

Calling the Northside home as he grew up in our community, Bonnke worked hard, learned English, and attended city schools, where he graduated as Fowler High School’s Valedictorian in 2016. Bonnke went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Management & Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2020. He currently works as an Operations Specialist for Wegmans Food Markets.

Sekarore is the founder of a non-profit called Refugee & American Brotherhood, a 501c3 aimed at supporting and mentoring youth in our community to become productive members of society.  He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA) and works as a facilitator on the Washington Square Neighborhood Task Force.

Bonnke is running for District 9 Onondaga County Legislature on the Syracuse Northside to grow economic opportunity, promote public safety, and be an accessible representative of his community."

Mark Olson joined the Onondaga County Legislature in 2022, bringing nearly two decades of elected office experience to bear. He served as the Mayor of the Village of Fayetteville from 2004 until 2024 and has been a member of the Fayetteville Fire Department since he was 14 years old.  He chairs the Public Safety Committee and brings an important understanding of emergency management to his committee. He also serves on the Planning & Economic Development Committee where he helps make important decisions for the future of Onondaga County.

  Rich McCarron attended Lemoyne College then proudly served our community as a Deputy Sheriff Police Officer in Onondaga County for 20 years.  After retiring in 2011 he established a successful residential real estate business servicing buyers and sellers in Central New York.  In 2022 Rich was appointed to the Onondaga County Legislature to represent the 11th District.  He successfully ran for re-election in 2023 and continues to serve today.  Proudly, Rich is a lifetime Republican and has served for decades as a committee member and is now the Chairman of The Town of Onondaga Republican Committee.  Rich lives on Onondaga Hill and has been married to his wife for almost 30 years.  He has two adult children, Patrick who graduated Bishop Ludden HS in 2015 and NYU in 2019 and now lives and works in New York City. Rich's daughter Katie graduated Bishop Ludden HS in 2024 and she attends UNC Greensboro! 

Michael La Flair, currently serves as the Administrative Planning & Funding Coordinator for Onondaga County’s Department of Community Development. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, as well as a Master’s in Business Administration, with a focus on Leadership & Finance from Le Moyne College. As a current Town Board member, his priority is to continue to keep the town’s finances in check while also providing high quality services.

Dina Falcone has proudly served the residents of Lysander as Town Clerk since 2016, bringing nearly two decades of experience in public service, government operations, and community leadership. With a strong background in records management, budgeting, grant writing, and IT administration, she has worked to modernize services, improve transparency, and strengthen town operations. Dina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Syracuse University and a Master’s degree in Teaching from Le Moyne College. She is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of town records, supporting responsible government, and enhancing services for all residents. Her proven leadership, professional experience, and commitment to the community make her the right choice to continue serving the Town of Lysander.

   Danny Liedka is an experienced leader with a strong record of public service and economic development. He currently serves as President and CEO of Visit Syracuse, where he oversees regional tourism strategy and drives initiatives that support local businesses. Danny previously served as Mayor of East Syracuse and as a Legislator in the Onondaga County Legislature, where he focused on public safety, infrastructure, and responsible budgeting. With a background in both government and business, Danny understands how to bring people together and get things done. He’s committed to keeping Manlius a great place to live, raise a family, and build a future.