Welcome back to Wonky Wednesday.  Each week I take a deep dive into the registration and election data that makes up the landscape of Onondaga County.  This week I take a look at the most Democratic town in Onondaga County, the Town of Dewitt.  Every member of the Town Board, the Town Clerk, and the Town Supervisor is held by Democratic lawmakers.  It is also the most carved up Town in Onondaga in terms of County legislature seats.

The Town of Dewitt has experienced the typical growth in registered voters large towns have seen in Onondaga County.  Don’t be fooled though by the slight decrease in 2021 as we just finished our National Change of Address which reduced the number of active voters county wide.  By the end of the year the Town of Dewitt should either catch or exceed its 2020 record registration.

Not surprising the town of Dewitt has a large Democratic plurality.  In fact the GOP is now out numbered by the non-enrolled voters.  The Town of Dewitt is the most Democratic municipality outside the City of Syracuse.  That is not all they have in common.  Dewitt is broken up into four county legislature districts.  That is also the most county legislature districts for any municipality outside the City of Syracuse.  

Dewitt has been a solid Democratic plurality for a long time. In Dewitt Democrats have steadily increased their plurality.  Unlike in other areas of Onondaga County this is not just a case of Democrats increasing the GOP has steadily lost numbers and percentage of voters.  In fact in 2019 the non-enrolled voter population overtook the GOP and has increased its lead over the GOP.

The four county legislature districts of the Town of Dewitt are the classic examples of stacking and cracking that made up the 2010 redistricting process in Onondaga County and nationwide.  The 5th OCL is just one election district, one of the more GOP election ds, put into that weirdly shaped district in an attempt to keep it in GOP hands.  The 7th OCL went through the middle of Dewitt, it was in GOP hands for a long time as the former mayor of E. Syracuse, though the Democrats were able to flip this district in 2015.  The 17th OCL consists of some of the most democratic districts in Dewitt paired with heavy democratic districts in the City of Syracuse in attempt to stack as many Democrats into one district and keep them out of others that might turn them Democrat, specially in Dewitt.  The lower portion of Dewitt was put into OCL 12 to pair with the rural more GOP south east of the County to make a GOP district.

Not surprising the Town of Dewitt as a whole is a strong performer for Democrats.  It is the only municipality where the “Significant six” races all went Democrat (except of course the City of Syracuse).  The registration advantage and Democratic representation provides a strong toehold for any candidate running on line A.  It is also a major target for redistricting in 2020 as it was in 2010 but will be a major player in 4 different legislative race, right now equally divided between GOP and Democrats.

In 2021 The Town of Dewitt the Town Supervisor, Clerk, one Town Justice, the highway superintendent, and 3 Town Councilors are up for election.  The Town Justice and the Town Highway Superintendent are currently held by the GOP.  At least one town councilor up for re-election has said she is not running for re-election.  The Town of Dewitt Democratic committee selects candidates via caucus which can happen anytime between March and July.  If you are interested in running for any of these seats and live in Dewitt or want to get involved in the committee contact Dewitt Town Chair Max Ruckdeschel at  max.ruckdeschel@gmail.com

Welcome to Wonky Wednesday where each week I delve into the registration and election data that makes up the electoral makeup of Onondaga County.  This week we dive into the big boy, the Town of Clay.  Clay represents the biggest town in Onondaga County and is only second in population to the City of Syracuse.  This growing northern town has a changing demographic population but is solidly represented by GOP office holders from top to bottom.  IN many ways it is a symbol for Democrats opportunities and struggles outside the City of Syracuse.

Like with all registration data in Onondaga County the Town of Clay has seen steady growth in its registration numbers over the last 12 years.  This growth accelerated in 2016 and really kicked into overdrive last year.  Clay is one of the largest growing town in Onondaga County and the ease in which you can register, and stay registered, to vote really helps a suburban town grow their numbers.

Clay has a Democratic plurality in its voting population.  34% of the registered voters are Democratic while 20% are GOP and 28% blank or non-enrolled.  The Town of Clay is so large that it wholly encompasses 2 county legislative districts and part of a 3rd.  County Legislative District 1 has a few election districts on the western border with Lysander.  County Legislator 2 makes up the rest of the western half of Clay and County Legislature 14 makes up the eastern half of the town.

Clay has followed the overall trend of surging Democratic enrollment and a stagnate GOP population and booming non-enrolled voters.  When looked at since 2009 Democrats Have overtaken the GOP and have widened the margin.  In 2020 Republicans surged a bit in registrations matching the Democrats for the first time.  Non-enrolled voters continue to out pace the growth of Democrats and GOP.  Future victories by Democrats will need to take into account not just the enrollment gap but growing non-enrolled as well.

The three county legislature districts inside Clay also have Democratic pluralities, despite being represented by GOP legislators for years.  OCL 1 represented by Brian May only has a portion of Clay, OCL 2 is represented by Jim Rawley, the former supervisor of Clay.  OCL 14 is now as of the time writing this vacant.  Casey Jordan took a job with County Law Department and left his office this week.  The County Executive has yet to anoint a replacement.  We can see here that Clay tends to get more Republican as it goes west towards Cicero.  Still both legislative seats should be competitive this fall.

Finally we see that Clay performs better for Democrats when there is higher turnout.  In our significant six races the town certainly voted GOP in all 3 races in 2019 though Masterpole performed better then his Democratic line mates.  Mannion and Biden both won clay by significant margins.  Balter continued to perform worse then her counterparts but if the significant portion of voters that voted on WFP line were added to her total it wouldn’t be as bad.  Democrats must convince their electorate that it is important to show up in off election years for hopes of winning in Clay this year.

In the town of Clay in 2021 the supervisor, Clerk, 3 Town Board Members, and the receiver of taxes are up for election.  All positions are held by Republicans.  The Town of Clay Democratic Committee is recruiting candidates and will appoint them via caucus by July.  Those interested in running or helping or even joining the Clay Democratic Committee should contact Clay Democratic Committee Chair Nancy Kinnetz at townofclaydemocrats@gmail.com.