Joanne M. "Joanie" Mahoney (born 1965) is the fifth president of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), in Syracuse, New York. Prior to this, she served as the County Executive of Onondaga County, New York. The first woman to hold, and be elected to, that position, she served from January 1, 2008, through November 1, 2018. Personal Mahoney was raised in Syracuse, New York, as the middle child of nine children. Her father, Bernie Mahoney, was a member of the Syracuse Common Council and then the New York State Assembly. Mahoney attended Shea Middle School and Corcoran High School in Syracuse, then received her B.A. degree from the Management School at Syracuse University in 1987, and J.D. degree from the Syracuse University College of Law in 1990. She is married to Marc Overdyk and has four children. Career Early career Mahoney worked as an attorney with the Harris Beach law firm as well as a criminal prosecutor in the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office. She left the position in 1997 to become a full-time, stay-at-home mother, but decided to run for a seat on the Syracuse Common Council. She won election to the Syracuse Common Council in November 1999, and served from 2000 until 2002. Mahoney decided against running for re-election to the Common Council, choosing to spend more time with her children. In 2005, she announced she would seek the office of Mayor of Syracuse, challenging incumbent Matthew Driscoll, a Democrat. She lost to Driscoll 49% to 46%, with Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins receiving 5% of the vote. It was the closest mayoral race in over 80 years for Syracuse. County executive In February 2007, long-time incumbent County Executive Nicholas J. Pirro announced his retirement. Mahoney decided to run, but failed to win the endorsement of the Onondaga County Republican Party. The Republicans endorsed Dale Sweetland, Chairman of the County Legislature. Mahoney decided to seek the Republican nomination in a party primary held on September 18, 2007. In the primary, she edged out Sweetland by 21 votes. However, Sweetland remained on the ballot, on the Conservative Party and Independence Party lines. During the general election, Mahoney was pitted against New York State Assemblyman, William "Bill" Magnarelli. Mahoney campaigned on bringing a "fresh start" to the county, while Magnarelli campaigned on the grounds that he was more experienced than Mahoney. She also