MAN OF THE PEOPLE

Amoment during Syracuse University’s 2012 Commencement address had a major impact on Jared Kraham ’13. Speaking to the graduating class, Academy and Emmy Award-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin ’83 said: “Baseball players say they don’t have to look to see if they hit a home run, they can feel it. So, I wish for you a moment—a moment soon—when you really put the bat on the ball, when you really get a hold of one and drive it into the upper deck, when you feel it. When you aim high and hit your target, when just for a moment all else disappears, and you soar with wings as eagles.”

The words rang true for the dual political science and broadcast and digital journalism graduate from the Maxwell School and the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications. Kraham aimed high, took a big swing and in January 2022 began his term as the mayor of Binghamton, New York, the city’s youngest ever at just 30 years old. “In some ways being elected was surreal, and it was also very humbling,” Kraham says.

Kraham says age was never an issue during the campaign. That, coupled with his experience working at City Hall as deputy mayor, made him feel at times like both the establishment candidate and the fresh new face in the race. “I was able to appeal to many younger voters who may not typically vote in local elections but believed in my message—if we want to attract and retain young people to live in our community, we should try electing one to lead it,” he says.

Experiences, like an internship with U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, provided a taste for a life in government. Likewise, his classes shaped and expanded his worldview on politics and the importance of civic engagement. He says political science Professor Thomas Keck’s constitutional law class taught him how exploring the merits of opposing viewpoints leads to understanding another’s perspective on policy or law. History and political science Associate Professor Margaret Thompson taught him important lessons on the modern presidency. “Professor Thompson’s lectures on the modern presidency made clear both the effectiveness and shortcomings of executive power in politics,” Kraham says. “It also taught me that personality can matter greatly in leadership, and that even the most influential people in American history could fall victim to everyday insecurities.”

Kraham’s advice for aspiring politicians: Trust your gut. “Every decision in public service comes down to, ‘Is this good for the community and the people I’ve been elected to serve?’ That’s a benefit not every career offers,” he says. “Public service provides the opportunity to come to work every day and make your community better.”

—Lisa Maresca