I interned for Ben when he was the Deputy Commissioner of Neighborhood and Business Development for the City of Syracuse. When my internship came to an end, Ben made a point of staying in touch; he even passed along the job listing that he believed might be a good fit for me. I ended up applying and was offered the position, and it’s been a wonderful, transformative experience for me. I think Ben is someone who brings out the best in people around him.
I believe Ben can help to significantly improve the quality of life for the people of Syracuse, while also improving morale and civic pride. He has already vowed to create a Quality of Life Commission and his profound experience in economic development leads me to feel strongly that, as Mayor, he will be able to form an environment in Syracuse that will strengthen the economy for all, while alleviating poverty. Ben understands the city’s strengths, as well as the needs and concerns of the people.
Ben has displayed the very principles that I as a Democrat care most about, but he has done so because these principles are important to him, on a personal level, rather than simply doing so because it exists in a party platform.
I think these examples will help to explain what I mean: My grandfather was raised an orphan and came of age during the depression. He found a job, as well as a sense of pride, in the CCC’s, which was a part of FDR’s New Deal. For that reason, I attribute my family’s economic mobility to a policy set forth by a democratic president. As an independent, Ben has proven that he too cares immensely about strengthening the economy for those who it too often has failed. Furthermore, Ben is openly supportive of LGBTQ rights, an issue that is profoundly important to my family. To me, these principles are not political, but are instead personal – and I intend to vote people over politics in this critical election, which is why Ben Walsh has my support.
--Liam Kirst
Liam’s devotion to the city of Syracuse runs deep. He is a proud Democrat who was born, raised and currently resides in the City of Syracuse. Liam is a beneficiary of the Say Yes to Syracuse program. He works in community engagement, is active in his neighborhood association and serves on the board for RBI Syracuse.