Chad Ryan
Candidate for Onondaga County Legislator, District 8
Background
- Occupation
- Funeral director; Onondaga County Legislator (District 8)
Funeral director and former Syracuse Common Council member who won the 8th District seat in November 2025 and chairs the legislature's Facilities Committee; he won the June 2026 Democratic primary.
Documented positions
Housing
Proposes expanding the county's O-CHIP housing incentive program.
Report2026 Primary Election Q&A: Onondaga County Legislature 8th District candidate Chad RyanCandidate questionnaire · Central Current (written answers by the candidate) · Jun 13, 2026 · centralcurrent.org
“increasing what developers can access through the O-CHIP program”
Proposes a county construction loan fund for housing developers.
Report2026 Primary Election Q&A: Onondaga County Legislature 8th District candidate Chad RyanCandidate questionnaire · Central Current (written answers by the candidate) · Jun 13, 2026 · centralcurrent.org
“a construction loan fund for developers offering low-interest loans to get projects off the ground”
Proposes incentive fund rewarding towns for consistent zoning.
Report2026 Primary Election Q&A: Onondaga County Legislature 8th District candidate Chad RyanCandidate questionnaire · Central Current (written answers by the candidate) · Jun 13, 2026 · centralcurrent.org
“A dedicated fund that rewards municipalities for participating, tied to a comprehensive plan”
Economy & jobs
Proposes more apprentices on Micron construction contracts.
Report2026 Primary Election Q&A: Onondaga County Legislature 8th District candidate Chad RyanCandidate questionnaire · Central Current (written answers by the candidate) · Jun 13, 2026 · centralcurrent.org
“We need to expand the journeyworker-to-apprentice ratio for Micron construction contracts.”
Environment & parks
Opposes Micron wastewater plans without legislative oversight.
Report2026 Primary Election Q&A: Onondaga County Legislature 8th District candidate Chad RyanCandidate questionnaire · Central Current (written answers by the candidate) · Jun 13, 2026 · centralcurrent.org
“What is not fine is the lack of transparency with the Legislature about how any of this is supposed to work.”
Government & transparency
Proposes stronger legislative review of county contracts.
Report2026 Primary Election Q&A: Onondaga County Legislature 8th District candidate Chad RyanCandidate questionnaire · Central Current (written answers by the candidate) · Jun 13, 2026 · centralcurrent.org
“The area where I want to push further is contracts.”
All sources (4)
- Official Candidates List, November 3, 2026 (revised 9/18/2026)
Election filing · Onondaga County Board of Elections · onondaga.gov
- Onondaga County Elected Official List (2026)
Government record · Onondaga County Board of Elections · onondaga.gov
- Democrats flipped control of the Onondaga County Legislature in 2025. Will they keep it?
News coverage · Central Current · May 29, 2026 · centralcurrent.org
- 2026 Primary Election Q&A: Onondaga County Legislature 8th District candidate Chad Ryan
Candidate questionnaire · Central Current (written answers by the candidate) · Jun 13, 2026 · centralcurrent.org
Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.