Clarence Democrats Endorse Jon Powers (NY-26)
At the regular monthly meeting of the Clarence Democratic Committee last night, the members heard from the two candidates for the 26th Congressional District seat now held by Tom Reynolds (R-Clarence).
Alice Kryzan spoke first, touting her legal experience - particularly having represented the town in past litigation - and took questions ranging from desired committeeships to No Child Left Behind.
Jon Powers spoke next, and the young Iraq War vet from Clarence underscored his campaign theme of leading by example. He reminded everyone of his campaign kick-off picnic at the Clarence Town Park last June when about 250 - Democrats and Republicans alike - came out to wish him well. That sort of bipartisan support was telling, and since then he’s been traveling all throughout the district, talking to suburbanites and farmers, students and businesspeople, young and old, about his vision, why he’s running, but more importantly listening to them and their concerns.
After hearing the candidates, and a lively discussion about their various merits, the committee voted unanimously to endorse Jon Powers for Congress. They join Wesley Clark, Bob Kerrey, and the Democratic Committees of Livingston, Genessee, and Orleans Counties.
The problems affecting Western New York are, frankly, not particularly unique to our region. They’re far more widespread, and his voice won’t be alone in the wilderness when he gets to Congress.
The elephant in the room nowadays is two-time loser Jack Davis. In a recent Buffalo News article, he was quoted thusly:
…he feels compelled to continue to highlight the issue and will again commit at least $2 million of his own funds to the effort should he decide to run….
…Davis said he is aware of his two possible opponents in a Democratic primary but said he has no doubt that his considerable wealth would enable him to defeat both.
“If he wants to run a primary against me, it’s a free country,” he said of Powers. “But I don’t think I will have any trouble beating him.”
Davis built his fortune over a long career as an engineer and owns I Squared R Element Co. in Akron. He spent $2.25 million of his own funds against Reynolds in 2006, only to lose by 52 percent to 48 percent. He lost by 12 percentage points in 2004 against Reynolds, a major figure in the state and national GOP, after spending about $1.2 million of his own money.
In 2006, Davis was handed a gift called “Mark Foley”. Reynolds’ sloppy handling of his role in that fiasco is what brought Davis within striking range of winning. All his money couldn’t make up for the fact that he refused to do any actual campaigning. Shaking people’s hands and looking them in the eye - that helps people win. He ignored much of Monroe County, including the Town of Greece - Rochester’s answer to Williamsville and Amherst. Reynolds was then bolstered by FEMA’s response to the October Storm, and we know the rest of that story.
Davis has run twice and lost twice. On the surface, that shouldn’t be an impediment to someone making a third try. The difference this time is that we have two qualified candidates who are already in the race. I believe that Jon Powers is the better candidate, and has a better shot at defeating Tom Reynolds in November. But for Davis to waltz around with his singular issue of trade, and expect his millions to do for him now what they’ve twice already failed to do, is simply arrogant. Not only doesn’t he meet & greet voters, he’s not even a good enough debater. He does not deserve anyone’s endorsement, and should. not. run.
He should instead devote his money and effort into supporting the candidate who is running a broader campaign of issues and vision, who goes out and listens to people rather than dictating to them.
This is a winnable race.
But not with Jack Davis.
Jon Powers has earned the respect and admiration of voters throughout the district. He’s been campaigning hard, and readily admits that it’s a learning process for him. He’s got the integrity and the smarts to go to Washington and not fall into the trap of big money and shady influence.
He’s the kind of guy who remembers that, no longer whether you’re “red” or “blue” on the political spectrum, both of those colors coexist quite happily on our flag.
ryan Says:January 15th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Jack Davis, the tired class warfare candidate vs. Reynolds, the corporate welfare candidate. Damn, does NY know how to pick them or what?
Good luck to Powers.
Stephen Nazwisko Says:January 15th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Two Qualified Candidates? Kryzan is a Pro-Hooker Chemical Love Canal lobbyist (like, that was actually her real occupation) who has donated her money to such great change agents as George Pataki and the very devil she claims to want to unseat, Tom Reynolds. Alice, if you want to beat Tom Reynolds why did you give him money? Is your actual goal to provide a tough Democratic Primary fight so that Reynolds can cruise to victory over a bloodied candidate (see Keane, Jim)?
peter scott Says:January 15th, 2008 at 11:26 am
not being from this district…I do have some interest in it (obviously getting rid of Reynolds)…
having gone to Geneseo, the whole campus was pretty intrigued by Prof. Cook’s run in 2002? 2000? not sure…
but my sister lives just outside of Geneseo…and her conservative husband has always been a Reynolds backer…I’d like to see his take on Powers…
I also find it interesting how communities that far from here are so linked by this district…Geneseo pretty much considers itself a Rochester south community…yet they’re in a house district linked much more with the Buffalo suburbs…
Slaughter’s district is oppositely similar (hmmm…I think that phrase works)
hank Says:January 15th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
With the shape WNY is in, speaking as a Conservative, at this juncture in the decline of WNY, I wouldn’t give a shit if a Communist, a Socialist, and a Green were running, someone else needs to see if they can get to DC and bring some much needed help—It doesn’t have to be “Earmarks” to be help.
I’ve followed Powers, and he’s got some things going for him that both Reynolds AND Slaughter don’t have.
He has no record of failure to help WNY out of the mess it has been in their entire political lives.
Youth, Military experience (not required but a plus AFAIC), and he’s sans a lot of political baggage.
He shouldn’t make too much of his endorsement by Gen “Ashley Wilkes” Wes Clark. It might impress the shit out of you liberals, but for crossover Republicans and military veterans, Clark is an example of a man who thinks he’s a hot shit in a champagne glass, but a glance in the mirror would show a cold turd in a Dixie cup. (sorry Alan, I know he’s “Your Boy”, but reality is reality)
Considering Reynolds has done no more for the area than Slaughter, or any other Hack NY pol, perhaps Powers is a good idea for any voter to look at, regardless of Party.
BTW, my parents were both republicans from the time they turned 21. (mom had to switch parties to get a City of Buffalo civil service job but still voted Rep.) But they DID vote for JFK.
If I could still vote up there I’d certainly look at any candidate to replace the hacks in there now.
MIke Says:January 15th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Hank are you sure he is the right Powers you followed? I think you mean Gary Powers, he was a vet too.
Jon Powers for Congress » Blog Archive » Clarence Democratic Committee Endorses Jon! Says:January 16th, 2008 at 9:28 am
[…] Via Buffalo Pundit […]
BobbyCat Says:January 16th, 2008 at 10:06 am
I take it that one of the people in the photo is Jon Powers. Your refusal to caption your photos baffles me. Even if the reader guesses correctly - and they have a 50/50 chance - then they still can’t identify the other guy in the photo.
Good journalism shouldn’t be an obstacle course. The idea is to make it easy to comprehend, not difficult.
Jack Mehoffer Says:January 16th, 2008 at 10:56 am
If you needed a caption to tell the difference between Wes Clark and Jon Powers, turn off your computer and go back to watching TV test patterns. You are a fucking moron.
Stephen Nazwisko Says:January 16th, 2008 at 11:18 am
BobbyCat, you should probably recognize a guy who was NATO Supreme Commander, who ran the Kosovo war, and who ran for President of the United States and won the Oklahoma primary; in fact, the entire reason this blog started was to support Wesley Clark. If you don’t know who he is in the photo, and therefore which one Jon Powers is not, I’m not going to tell you. See the last sentence of the comment above.
MIke Says:January 16th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Jack, i really miss watching those test patterns, i havent seen one in many many years. My favorite used to be channel 7’s sign off. Bobbycat must be some kid who never had to get off his chair to change a channel, dont blame him growning up just pointing and clicking.
BobbyCat Says:January 17th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Funny, I go through life and never hear a single insult when I am nose to nose with people. I chuckle at all these tough guys sitting behind their computers.
No, I didn’t recognize Wes Clark without any caption. Ok, believe what you will - that captions serve no purpose.
Jackson Smiles Says:January 17th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I’m not going to insult any of the people who’s posted comments (although there is one I would really like to)…
Powers seems like a great candidate, whether your Republican or Democratic. When Mr. Davis ran… he was only a good choice because he wasn’t Tom Reynolds.
I am a registered Republican, I voted David last election. I would’ve voted for a mentally handicapped squirrel if it ran against Reynolds.
This time the Dem’s have a great candidate with great views and a level head on his shoulder. Jack Davis and Alice Kryzan (who needs to bushwack her eyebrows) should both drop out. Yes I know Jack’s not in it yet, but come on everyone knows he’s gearing up to try and run because he’s a rich old guy with nothing left but a pile of viagra and millions of dollars. He’s going to eat the little blue pills, spend the money, and f*ck the democrats.
Kryzan’s just a plant by Reynolds anyways to waste either Jack’s or Jon’s money when they run, because Reynold’s is too much of a p*ssy to take either of them on by himself.
Jackson Smiles Says:January 17th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I apologize for a typo of Davis’s name in the last post- I put David.
You'll like Jon Powers Too! Says:March 10th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I love so many of your comments BUT All i have to say is -Yes… without Question JON Powers is the best Candidate WNY has had in Decades. He is a genuine guy with a born personality of making a difference. He will definitely help our community in the next 2 years and as his experience grows so will his abilities to make change here and in Wny and washington
IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHO JON IS— YOU MUST MAKE AN EVENT WHERE YOU CAN MEET HIM YOURSELF— YOU’LL BE CONVINCED RIGHT AWAY!
I have always believed Alice was a reynolds trick and Davis is trying to destroy Jon’s good record with Lies because he is 75, bored and pissed that Jon has already locked up many key endorsements and Jack is simply too late!
JACK NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOU, WHAT YOU THINK OR YOUR MONEY! if you run — you’ll hand Tom a better chance at screwing us more! stay home and sleep.