Katelyn Kriesel - From Manlius, For Manlius

Katelyn moved to Manlius with her family in 1998 and graduated from Fayetteville-Manlius High School in 2005. She studied Political Science and Psychology—starting at SUNY Albany and graduating from SUNY Buffalo in 2009. She’s currently earning her Master of Public Administration at Syracuse University.

On the Town Board, Katelyn launched Sustainable Manlius to turn goals into practical wins: EarthFest (now the largest Earth Day event in Onondaga County); the county’s first DEC Climate Smart Community (Bronze) and a NYSERDA Clean Energy Community designation; a Climate Action Plan; and Greenhouse Gas Inventories for both the Town and the wider community. A signature project is the 2.35 MW community solar array on the retired landfill—turning a liability into local clean energy, lowering costs for participating residents, and generating new revenue for the Town.