Maurice Brown, Onondaga County Legislature, 15th District (D)
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Maurice Brown, or Mo as many in our community call him, is the County Legislator for the 15th District of Onondaga County. Mo’s district is located entirely within the City of Syracuse and encompasses parts of the Meadowbrook, Outer Comstock, University, Strathmore, Southside, Near Westside & Valley Neighborhoods. Mo believes that housing, healthcare, and education are human rights. He believes that every single person deserves to be treated with dignity and every child deserves a fair shot at an education regardless of their zip code.
Mo is an Alumni of both Onondaga Community College & Syracuse University. Currently, Mo works at OCC as a Success Coach where he helps students with the transition to and from college as well as helping them navigate the specifics related to attending a community college in CNY.
In 2012, Mo enlisted in the United States Army Reserve as a Military Police Officer. At the age of 22, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant becoming the youngest non-commissioned officer in his unit. Serving in the Military taught him many things, but there are two lessons that Mo says have shaped his character: that if we work together we can accomplish some truly amazing things and that although people come in many sizes, shapes, and colors, fundamentally, we all want the same things.
In 2015, Senator Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign activated Mo into the political arena. Mo volunteered for the campaign, and he was nominated to become a National Delegate. Mo hosted rallies, town halls, and other public events as part of the campaign. Although the campaign was unsuccessful, Mo says, organizing for Senator Sanders proved to be a valuable experience. Since then, he has worked on many electoral and issue campaigns in CNY.
In 2017, Mo co-founded Uplift Syracuse, a progressive advocacy group focused on bringing local change through electoral politics. Uplift fought to help build consensus for the Community Grid option, and they’ve worked to elect several progressives to local office.
As the region’s organizer for the Working Families Party, Mo also worked to get money out of politics as a part of Fair Elections NY. By helping pass public financing, the coalition worked to replace corporate-funded elections with Fair Elections and make sure ordinary New Yorkers would have their voices heard. As part of this winning campaign, Mo spent time organizing rallies and press events in Buffalo, Albany, Rochester, and here in Syracuse.
As an Organizer, Mo has worked or volunteered on several federal, state, and local electoral campaigns in nearly every role. He managed winning campaigns for Mary Kuhn on the County Legislature and Anna Kelles in the State Assembly. This time working campaigns has allowed Mo to meet some truly remarkable people. It’s affirmed his belief that there’s no other place like Syracuse, and no other community like ours here in Central NY.
Palmer Harvey, Onondaga County Legislature, 9th District (D)
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Palmer Harvey is a proud Northside resident and community organizer. Over her career, she has a track record of fighting for better legislation on the state and local levels to improve housing conditions and strengthen our communities. She founded the Syracuse Tenants Union and advocated for tenants’ rights, better housing conditions, and fair and affordable housing to fight poverty in Syracuse. She uses her platform to raise awareness of the County Legislature and what it does and can do for our community. As a County Legislator, she uses her voice to continue fighting for the people of this district and the greater residents of Onondaga County.
Nodesia R. Hernandez, Onondaga County Legislature, 17th District (D)
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Nodesia Hernandez is a highly accomplished and dedicated professional with a wealth of experience in public service, law, education, and diversity, equity, and inclusion advocacy. She currently serves as an Onondaga County Legislator and is the Director of Public Affairs for the New York State Senate. In these roles, she has been instrumental in driving positive change in her community, advocating for marginalized communities, and promoting social justice and equality. Nodesia is also the CEO of the National Minority Paralegal Association, a position she has held since 2013. In addition to her work in law and politics, Nodesia is also a passionate educator. She has served as a civic youth educator and as a DEIA Fellow at the Seward House Museum. Nodesia holds a Master of Science degree in Teaching and Curriculum from Syracuse University, where she also completed her Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies. Throughout her academic and professional career, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to excellence, professionalism, and integrity.
Kevin J. Meaker, Onondaga County Legislature, 2nd District (R)
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Kevin J. Meaker decided to run for Onondaga County Legislature because he wanted to be able to work on important issues that affect people’s lives and help shape the future of our community. First elected in November 2023, Meaker is now serving as the District 2 Legislator. Prior to this position, he was a Town Councilor in the Town of Clay from 2017 through 2023. Professionally, he owns his own real estate company and works as a Substitute Teacher in the Phoenix Central School District. In his first term at the Legislature, Legislator Meaker was chosen to be Vice Chairperson of the Planning & Economic Development committee and as a member of the Health & Human Services committee.
Legislator Meaker studied at Henninger and Hannibal High Schools, as well as Bryant and Stratton College. He feels he is a good listener who works to relate to people, no matter their social status, needs, or abilities. He encourages his constituents to reach out if they have a question or need help with something. Legislator Meaker believes that Legislators should be preparing for Onondaga County’s growth moving into the next generation, with the addition of both Amazon and the Micron project creating a significant economic boost to the region. With both companies so close to his district, he wants to ensure that the benefits trickle down to the local businesses and residents and so, he plans to be a strong leader with the knowledge and expertise to handle these complex issues.
Giving back to his community has always been important to Legislator Meaker. He’s currently doing so in a number of ways:
- Volunteer caterer at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Baldwinsville
- American Red Cross Blood Donor, Liverpool
- Cicero-North Syracuse Superintendent’s Advisory Committee
Legislator Meaker lives in Clay with his wife Alison, and together they are raising five children. An adorable Dachshund named Dexter (aka” Poindexter”) completes the family tree. He loves the NYS Fair, the Regional Market, playing bingo, and watching sports, especially the Little League World Series and the teams of Syracuse University.
Mark A. Olson, Onondaga County Legislature, 10th District (R)
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Mark Olson joined the Legislature in 2022, bringing nearly two decades of elected office experience to bear. He served as the Mayor of the Village of Fayetteville for 20 years and has been a member of the Fayetteville Fire Department since he was 14 years old.
On the County Legislature, Mark chairs the Public Safety committee and brings an important understanding of emergency management to his committee. He is also a member of the Planning & Economic Development committee.
Dan Romeo, Onondaga County Legislature, 7th District (D)
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Dan Romeo is a dedicated public servant and currently serves as the District 7 Legislator. Dan has served as a firefighter for over a decade, working with the Syracuse Fire Department and the East Syracuse Fire Department. Dan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management from Syracuse University. Dan served on the Syracuse City School District Board of Education for several years as a Commissioner of Education. He is committed to working across party lines to make the county a better place for all. Dan brings valuable insights as a millennial and is dedicated to building strong relationships with members of all parties. Dan is a lifelong resident of Syracuse, having grown up in Eastwood and attended St. Matthew’s Elementary and Bishop Grimes Junior/Senior High School. He has a deep understanding of the community and is passionate about working to represent the 7th District.