Miner Resigns as State Democratic Co-Chair

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner submitted her resignation today as co-chair of the New York State Democratic Committee.

Miner, who was named to the position in 2012 along with Assemblyman Keith Wright, sent a resignation letter to the executive director of the state committee and notified a few other people of her decision.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to work with each of you and espouse the progressive values of our party and, of course, to help get Democrats elected to office,” Miner wrote in the letter. “While I have enjoyed my tenure as co-chair, the time has come to allow someone else to fill the role.”

In a brief interview with City & State, Miner said that the text of the letter speaks for itself.

“It was time to move on and there’s obviously a full cycle of elections and so resigning at this time gives the party a chance to talk and confer on my replacement at the state committee and also put together an action plan for the upcoming elections,” Miner said, echoing what she wrote in the letter.

Miner has been outspoken on financial struggles facing local governments, such as the need for mandate relief, and she has at times pushed back against the policies of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who named her to the post. In a February 2013 op ed in the New York Times, she pointedly said the Cuomo’s proposed state budget avoided looming financial problems facing New York.

The full text of Miner’s resignation letter is below:

April 17, 2014

Dear Members of the State Committee and Governor Cuomo:

Please consider this letter my formal resignation as co-chair of the New York State Democratic Party, effective April 17, 2014. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with each of you and espouse the progressive values of our party and, of course, to help get Democrats elected to office. While I have enjoyed my tenure as co-chair, the time has come to allow someone else to fill the role.

With a full slate of elections in November, I chose to resign now in order to give you time to confer on my replacement at the State Convention, as well as prepare for a robust election cycle. While those of us in public service do not lack for challenges or opportunities, I want to assure you I will continue to do all I can to ensure Democrats continue to get elected to office this year and going forward.

I thank you for all of the generosity you have shown me over these past two years and I look forward to seeing you again on the Hustings.

All the Best,

Stephanie A. Miner