Onondaga County Executive – William B. Magnarelli (D, WFP – Open Seat)

William Magnarelli currently serves as Assemblymember for the 120th Assembly District and is running for the open county executive seat.  He has been a consistent ally of the Pride Agenda and the LGBT community, having voted correctly for every piece of LGBT legislation that has come in front of him. 

Assemblymember Magnarelli was also one of the 85 “yes” votes in the Assembly’s June 2007 vote on the marriage equality bill.  He said on his candidate questionnaire that, “The current practice of denying basic rights and privileges associated with traditional, heterosexual marriage to the LGBT community is wrong.  Furthermore, I am known as a supporter of efforts at the state level to prevent discrimination against students on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.”  Magnarelli has indicated in his questionnaire that, if elected, he would issue executive orders to help bring equality and justice to LGBT people and their families in Onondaga County.

Assemblymember Magnarelli has been endorsed by the Working Families Party, CSEA, United Auto Workers, SEIU 1199 IBEW 1197, UNITE-HERE, and the American Postal Workers Union. 

He faces Joanie Mahone, who did not submit a questionnaire seeking the Pride Agenda’s endorsement.  

Bill Magnarelli is a champion of LGBT issues and has a proven record supporting our community.  The Empire State Pride Agenda is proud to express our continued support and endorse William B. Magnarelli for Onondaga County Executive. 

 Town of Brighton Supervisor - Sandra L. Frankel (D, WFP - Incumbent)

Ms. Frankel was Chair of the NYS Democratic Party Task Force on Domestic Partnership and Civil Unions and was instrumental in the passage of two resolutions by the state party addressing LGBT relationships, one in support of marriage for same-sex couples. She helped win approval of Brighton's sexual orientation human rights policy and domestic partner benefits for town employees. In addition, Ms. Frankel put Brighton on record as one of the first localities in the state to say it would fully respect marriages of same-sex couples from other jurisdictions.

Ms. Frankel is being challenged by Republican Wes McAllister, who did not submit a questionnaire seeking the Pride Agenda's endorsement.

Ms. Frankel is a champion of LGBT issues and has a proven record supporting our community as an elected official. The Empire State Pride Agenda is proud to endorse Sandra Frankel's re-election as Town of Brighton Supervisor.

 Albany County Legislator, 6th District – Chris Higgins (D)

This is the first election to take place after Democrat John Fredrick vacated the seat last year, a perennial Pride Agenda endorsee who sponsored the marriage equality resolution and the gender identity non-discrimination legislation in the Albany County Legislature.  Chris Higgins has indicated that he will pick up the reins and reintroduce both measures, as well as a new measure to implement some of the provisions of the Dignity for All Students Act in public schools throughout Albany County.

While his opponent R.A. De Prima submitted a candidate questionnaire, Mr. Higgins went further in explaining specific legislation that he would introduce in the county legislature.  For this reason, the Pride Agenda endorses Chris Higgins for the Albany County Legislature, 6th District.

 Troy City Council, 5th District – Kenneth Zalewski (D, WF)

Kenneth Zalewski would be the first openly gay elected official within Rensselaer County and is an extremely viable challenger in this contest.  He has indicated in his questionnaire that he would sponsor legislation in the Troy City Council to help bring equality and justice to LGBT people and their families in the city of Troy, including: same sex domestic partner health benefits and the prohibiting discrimination based upon gender identity and expression.

Mr. Zalewski has been endorsed by the Victory Fund, Citizen Action of New York, Democracy for America, Troy Neighbors for Peace, Troy Area Labor Council, Congressman Michael McNulty, and the Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Committee.

Mr. Zalewski is challenging incumbent Robert Krogh, who did not submit a questionnaire seeking the Pride Agenda’s endorsement.