Copyright syracuse.com
Salina, N.Y. -- Newcomer Raul Huerta, a Democrat, beat incumbent Nick Paro, a Republican, in the race for supervisor. Huerta got 3,597 votes, or 58%, according to unofficial election results. Paro got 2,637 voters, or 42%. Huerta said he ran a self-funded campaign and campaigned door-to-door. He was feeling confident but fell short of declaring victory. “Nobody owns me,” he said. “We are public servants and we don’t tell people what to do. We want to build a Salina community that works together for the public good.” He said he didn’t think anti-Trump sentiment helped him or the other Democrats. “It’s not Trump at all,” he said. “Politics are local.” Paro conceded to Huerta, though he disagreed with the Democrat’s assessment of Tuesday’s results. “The people of Onondaga County don’t like the label Republican right now,” Paro said. “I don’t think there was anything that any of us could have done.” Huerta’s victory over Paro is a notable loss for local Republicans. Two years ago, Paro got the attention of GOP state leaders when he stopped New York City officials from sending busloads of migrants to live at the Candlewood Suites in his town. Paro was first elected as supervisor in 2021. He got his start under Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, working as a legislative aide and analyst. He ran for state Assembly in 2018 and lost to Democrat Al Stirpe. Paro then ran for state Senate unsuccessfully in 2024. “It’s over,” Paro texted to syracuse.com Tuesday night. “You guys can call it. The Democrats took the entire town board.” Huerta is originally from New Mexico, but moved to Central New York in 1985. He has served an administrator at SUNY Morrisville and as a chapter president of United University Professions.
