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In Cicero, Democrat Rob Santucci has been declared the winner in the closely contested race for town supervisor. After absentee ballots were counted on Wednesday (November 12), Santucci led incumbent Republican Michael Aregano by 41 votes, securing a total of 3,021 votes to Aregano's 2,980. These results remain unofficial until certified by the Onondaga County Board of Elections.
The narrow margin of victory, just 0.7%, reflects the intense competition in the race. Santucci, who is the chair of the Cicero Democrats and a retired middle school teacher from the North Syracuse school district, managed to overtake Aregano, a retired Cicero police officer and the current supervisor since 2021.
The election comes amid a broader trend of Democratic gains in areas traditionally dominated by Republicans. Aregano's campaign faced challenges, including internal party conflicts and accusations of verbal harassment from a former secretary, which he has denied.
Other local races in Onondaga County, including contests for the Onondaga town board and Solvay village trustee, remain undecided and may require a hand count due to their close margins. The official results for these races will be determined following the completion of the hand count process.
Santucci's victory marks a significant political shift in Cicero, with the final results pending official certification. Meanwhile, Aregano has expressed his intention to remain active in politics, stating, "Politics is about blood, sweat, and tears. It was worth every bit of it."