Matthew Driscoll
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Matthew John Driscoll (Born February 7, 1958), is an American Democratic Party politician, currently serving as the 52nd Mayor of Syracuse, New York.
Driscoll became Mayor in May 2001 when former Republican Mayor Roy Bernardi was appointed as deputy secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development in President Bush's administration. As President of the City of Syracuse Common Council, Driscoll automatically succeeded Bernardi and served the remainder of Bernardi's mayoral term.
That fall Driscoll defeated several other Democrats in a primary, including Kate O'Connell. He went on to be elected after defeating former common councilor Bernie Mahoney by a thirty-two percent margin. In 2005 he defeated Mahoney's daughter, Joanie by a five percent margin. Mahoney's race was largely-funded by James Walsh and developer Robert Congel, a Pioneer fundraiser for the Bush-Cheney relection campaign who also is overseeing the proposed expansion of the Carousel Center shopping mall. Driscoll campaigned alongside Eliot Spitzer, who had already begun his campaign to win New York's governorship in 2006; Spitzer's widespread popularity among New York Democrats likely helped Driscoll cement support from the majority-Democrat city and win reelection.
Previously, he served as President of the Syracuse Common Council from 1998 to 2001, as Third District Councilor in 1995, and as Second District Councilor from 1987 to 1989.
It is not yet known whether Driscoll will seek any other office after his second term expires.
[edit] Trivia
- Guest hosted The Jim Reith Show on a few occasions.
[edit] External link
For an extended length of time, Driscoll also owned "Rose O'Grady's" on Tipperary Hill, one of the most popular Irish Pubs in Syracuse.
Graduated in 1976 from West Genesee High School in Camillus, NY
