Courtney M. Hills, a Syracuse University alumna, will be the first female legislator to represent Onondaga County’s 7th District, east of Syracuse, if she wins the general election this November.

Hills, as a write-in, picked up the Independence Party line in the September primary.

Originally, Hills was running for mayor of the Village of East Syracuse, she said, but decided to run for legislature after current legislator Danny Liedka announced he would not be running for re-election, due to personal circumstances.

“With this opportunity I would be representing a much larger population so I could help more residents,” Hills said.

As a member of the Independence Party, Hills said she embodies aspects from multiple parties, such as social tolerance and fiscal conservatism. Overall, her “philosophy is whatever works best for the people of my district,” she added.

Hills believes being a member of the Independence Party will be her biggest challenge of the race because, she said, there is a notion that many Independents are undecided. In Syracuse, it is rare for Independents to successfully run for office, she said. If elected, Hills said she will be the first Independent legislator in the county.

She said she hopes to improve the quality of life for 7th District residents by improving public safety and keeping taxes low, while also providing quality services and investing in aging infrastructure.

Hills spent about 10 years working as an attorney, focusing on municipal and real estate law.

“I’ve been (advising other elected officials) for 10 years,” she said. “I kind of just wanted to help my own community.”

Hills is supported by the Independence Party, the Republican Party and current legislator Liedka. After 15 years of public service, with nearly six years in the Onondaga County Legislature, Liedka said he decided to focus on his family.

Liedka said he believes Hills will “be a tremendous asset to our community.”

Hills’ opponent, Democrat Tom Buckel, represented the 7th District on the Onondaga County Legislature from 2008 to 2011. His main priorities are to transform the delivery of social services and change the local tax system in favor of the middle class, he said.

Buckel added that he believes the differences between Hills and himself “will highlight us.”

The 7th District of Syracuse includes East Syracuse and the Town of DeWitt. Legislators are elected to two-year terms in odd-numbered years.

Hills received three degrees from SU, including a doctor of law and bachelor’s degrees in psychology and child and family studies.

On being the first female to represent the 7th District in the legislature, if elected, Hills said: “It’s very exciting, now is the time.”

Published on October 3, 2017 at 11:58 pm

Contact Phoebe: phbrenne@syr.edu