Colleen Deacon, a Syracuse University alumna and former congressional aide to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), will run against U.S. Rep. John Katko for Congress from New York’s 24th district.

Deacon, a Democrat, resigned from her six-year stint as the Central New York regional director for Gillibrand in the past month to run for Congress, according to an Oct. 1 Syracuse.com article. Deacon previously served as an aide to former Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll, who was mayor from 2001 to 2009.

Deacon joins SU professor Eric Kingson in the race to be named the Democratic Party’s nomination for the 24th district. Kingson launched his campaign in Thornden Park in September. John Katko, a Republican, is the 24th district’s current representative. He unseated democratic incumbent Dan Maffei in an election last year where he earned 60 percent of the vote.

During her time as regional director for Gillibrand, Deacon worked with elected officials, businesses, not-for-profits, educational institutions, community groups, manufacturers and individuals in central New York.

“Colleen has been an integral part of my efforts in Central New York over the last six years,” Gillibrand said in a Monday release. “Her knowledge of and love for the area, her ability to solve problems and her incredible work ethic have been a huge benefit to the region. I’m thrilled to see her take this step, and I look forward to working with her to accomplish even more great things for the people of New York state when she comes to Congress.”

Deacon filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission Thursday, thereby declaring her run for the House of Representatives.

The candidate was able to pay for her education at SU through her jobs as a waitress and grocery clerk, and by taking out student loans, according to the release. Following her graduation, Deacon had a son, and was able to keep herself and him healthy through Medicaid, food stamps and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), according to the release.

“I understand the challenges and opportunities facing my neighbors here in Central New York, because I’ve lived them myself,” Deacon said in the release. “I have seen — up close and personal — how the issues that get talked about in Washington, D.C. affect real people’s lives.”

Published on October 5, 2015 at 5:46 pm

Contact Alexa: atorrens@syr.edu