Two Democratic candidates are facing off in this year’s primary election for New York Assembly District 130. It comes after the Republican incumbent did not seek reelection. Williamson resident Joseph Lamanna is challenged by Sodus native Carl Fitzsimmons.
Lamanna is a retired engineer after being the union steward, committeeman and ultimately the president of his company’s local union. He refers to himself as a doer, instead of a politician. The Williamson resident serves on the planning board, zoning board, and participates in the assessment review board. He acknowledges the large surface area of District 130, which is home to roughly 130,000 residents.
District 130, which encompasses 16 townships, 15 of which are in Wayne County, and Webster also. It’s the tale of two communities. Webster is struggling with their overgrowth process, and people just want more open space and walking areas. And Williamson is just the opposite.
“Williamson and the rest of the townships in this community are in need of some growth,” Lamanna explained. “I feel that the towns within Wayne County have been left behind. The whole district has been left behind with revenue, programs and funding. I think that it’s time to rejuvenate this area and re-fabricate the district and rejuvenate the towns that are included within.”
Both candidates say they want to keep political divides out of their goals. Both have also run for other positions. Lamanna says he earned 47% of the votes in his campaign for Williamson town supervisor. Fitzsimmons says he’s also run for Webster and for Monroe County legislator. Neither candidate’s prior campaigns put them in office, but they say they learned a lot from those experiences.
Fitzsimmons refers to himself as a “progressive humanist.” The veteran says he will fight for the working class.
“I don’t see things in red and blue. I don’t see things as R and D. I see them as workers, alright? And the very rich. And I have for a long, long time,” he said.
He’s a strong advocate for the New York Health Act, and has hopes to bring local energy to the district, like solar panels and windmills.
“You start building out your local infrastructure. That’s employment opportunities, that’s economic development, new businesses … another component that I’m really strong on is create local, purchase local,” Fitzsimmons added.
Lamanna hopes to bring more homes and job opportunities to the area to keep residents local. He says the Omicron developments in Syracuse could have a hand in that.
“We do have a crisis with homes and availability of homes. When children graduate high school, first of all, they don’t have proper employment. So they’re leaving the area. They can’t find homes and housing. They leave the area. It’s just a continuing factor that just keeps growing and growing,” Lamanna explained. “We live along Lake Ontario and we should be thriving with tourism and industry and in housing. We should be thriving.”
Fitzsimmons is endorsed by the New York Progressive Action Network.
Lamanna has already secured his spot on the independent line on the November ballot.
Early voting for this primary race begins June 13.