DEERFIELD — Dan Fusco, a Deerfield Town Board member, has announced his candidacy for New York State Assembly’s 119th District. He recently has received endorsement from the Oneida County Republican Committee.
Fusco is running as a Republican. He’s joined by fellow Republican Mike Gentile and Democrats Joe Betar and Jon Lipe as candidates for the 119th Assembly seat. Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon currently holds the position and will not be seeking reelection. The 119th district includes Utica, Rome, Marcy, Deerfield, Whitesboro and Floyd.
“This is not about me, it is not just about the Republican party, it is about the future of all the people of New York,” Fusco said. “It is about fortifying our representative republic and defending the freedoms it affords all citizens. Solutions to issues, not just political rhetoric, is the cornerstone of my campaign. Affordability of homes, energy and food costs, supporting law enforcement on the streets and in correction facilities, keeping peace on our streets, building an economy that will support future generations are at the forefront of my campaign.”
Fusco lives in Deerfield but was born in Utica, where he has founded businesses, including successful piano technology and music product manufacturing companies. He also said he owns and operates a rural agricultural property where he raises beef and vegetables for local markets and maintains dedicated conservation land to protect native grasslands and wildlife habitat.
A longtime martial arts instructor and International Master through the World Taekwondo Association, Fusco has spent decades teaching youth fitness, discipline, and injury prevention.
He currently serves as an elected member of the Deerfield Town Board, where he said he has gained firsthand experience with local governance, budgeting, land use, and constituent services.
In his role as town board member, Fusco was mentioned by name in a lawsuit against the town board filed by a developer whose proposed affordable housing complex was denied by the town board. In the lawsuit, Fusco is accused of stoking anti-affordable housing sentiments within the town with inflammatory social media posts and public comments.
“Our district deserves a strong voice in Albany, someone who will fight for taxpayers, protect our communities, and respect the values that built the Mohawk Valley,” Fusco said. “I’m ready to do that work.”
Source: Rome Sentinel
