Matt Sullivan, a paramedic, union leader, and Army veteran, has announced his candidacy for the Tompkins County Legislature, aiming to bring urgent attention to emergency services, childcare, and local job development.
A lifelong Danby resident and graduate of Ithaca High School, Sullivan has built his career around service—first as a combat medic with the New York Army National Guard, then as a paramedic with Bangs Ambulance. His leadership experience includes deployment in Iraq and Kuwait, where he earned the Army Commendation Medal, and later founding Bangs Ambulance Workers United, a CSEA-affiliated union, where he now serves as president.
In his campaign launch, Sullivan highlighted three key priorities: improving rural emergency medical services, expanding childcare access, and strengthening workforce and economic opportunities across Tompkins County.
Emergency response gaps, particularly in Danby, are central to Sullivan’s platform. Some 35 percent of calls in Tompkins County receive no initial response, and wait times regularly exceed 20 minutes.
Sullivan notes that the Danby Volunteer Fire Department has done an incredible job decreasing response times. A 2023 article stated: “[increasing response times] is not true of every Tompkins County municipality. Danby, for instance, saw a 4.6-minute decrease, though its response time in 2021 was still nearly three times the national average.”
On childcare, Sullivan pointed to a stark mismatch between need and availability. More than 400 children under age five live in Danby and Caroline, yet only 162 childcare slots exist for children under 12. With average costs exceeding $16,000 a year—over 20 percent of a typical family’s income—he says expanding options is critical. He plans to seek funding from the state’s $110 million Childcare Construction Fund to build and upgrade local facilities.
Sullivan also stressed the importance of economic resilience in light of cutbacks at major employers like BorgWarner and the Cargill Salt Mine. He supports broader access to union jobs and wants to reform the Tompkins County Workforce Development Board to offer better pathways into skilled trades. He also backs tax incentives for small businesses that hire local workers and supports diversifying beyond the healthcare and education sectors.
Although this is his first campaign for public office, Sullivan has already been active in regional policy, serving on the Regional EMS Council since 2023.
He and his wife, Krissy—who works as a nurse practitioner at Cayuga Medical Center—returned to Danby in 2020 to raise their family. They now live in West Danby with their young son, Daniel.
Sullivan says his campaign will focus on listening to the community and taking action based on what residents need. His message is simple: no one should have to leave Tompkins County to find quality care, a stable job, or a safe home.
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