Category Archives: Interviews

“I think it’s a good ruling for democracy,’’ said Dustin Czarny, Onondaga County’s Democratic elections commissioner. “It lets the voters decide.’’ https://www.syracuse.com/news/2021/04/judge-rejects-gop-lawsuit-democrats-keep-2nd-ballot-line-in-onondaga-other-counties.html

Czarny said the lawsuit is exploiting a technicality to kick the Democrats off a second ballot line. “I think it’s an awful petty reason to throw somebody off the ballot,’’ he said. https://www.syracuse.com/news/2021/04/gop-lawmakers-in-onondaga-county-sue-to-block-2nd-ballot-line-for-democrats.html

“Now we’re in the middle of this filing period, we have till Thursday, and by Friday, we will know which candidates are going to be up for office, which ones are going to be on the ballot for a primary, and which ones are for general and then it begins,” https://cnycentral.com/news/leading-syracuse/syracuse-mayoral-candidates-begin-battle-to-get-name-on-the-ballot

First was “StickyGate”, the revelation the Oneida County Board of Elections ignored state law and instead of marking individually challenged ballots in ink, officials used quasi permanent sticky notes, which happened to fall off before the ballots could be reviewed. “It was not a well thought out system,” Czarny said with a laugh. Czarny saidContinue reading “UNDELIVERED: The Broken Promises of NY-22 – WBNG”

“We’re seeing a trend of more people living in the suburbs,…People who are leaving the city are still keeping their ideological bent, they just happen to be living in more middle class sections of these suburbs” https://www.syracuse.com/politics/cny/2021/02/longtime-republican-town-tips-blue-as-syracuses-suburbs-become-more-democratic.html

The elections commissioner positions are now also exempt from having to report their work hours. Czarny said he’ll still record his time anyway. “Just to keep myself honest and accountable,” Czarny said. Czarny said he knows some Republican legislators don’t like him, calling him too outspoken and partisan, but he doesn’t care. “I hope they’reContinue reading “Onondaga County elections commissioners get $30,000 payout, after attempted pay cut – WRVO”

Czarny, the Democratic commissioner, said he’s uncomfortable with the new system, which does not require him to document vacation time he takes. He’s asking his secretary to keep track of it anyway, he said. “I don’t think it’s very accountable to the public that we don’t have to account for our time,’’ he said. “I’veContinue reading “How a pay cut led to $30,000 extra for Onondaga County elections commissioners – syracuse.com”

“I have been privately struggling with pride the last month and guilt. I knew I would be eligible before many of those I care about, including my family,” he wrote on Twitter. It was Czarny’s wife who convinced him – that, and knowing he was protecting his family by getting vaccinated. “If you struggle withContinue reading “Weighing weight as a means of vaccine eligibility gives CNY man pause – CNYcentral.com”

“This race would have been subject to an automatic recount if it happened in 2021 … Because it didn’t, the only recourse for any candidate to ask for a recount, is to have a judge order it. That was the old law and is still in effect for this race.” https://cnycentral.com/news/local/onondaga-co-boe-commissioner-talks-ny-22-audits-and-the-new-recount-law

“Voters that were enrolled in those parties do not have to do anything. They’re not not enrolled to vote, they’re being moved to what’s called the ‘Other Category.’