Tom Reynolds To Quit
It’s being reported here and there, near and far, that Tom Reynolds’ presser today at 12 noon is to announce that he will not be seeking re-election this year, after all.
Speculation abounds as to whom, exactly, the Republicans might get to run for that seat.
One thing’s for sure, Reynolds may have survived the Foley scandal thanks to a well-timed storm and the amazing celerity with which FEMA came to the rescue, but it’s very doubtful he could have explained away the incredible mismanagement of NRCC money that took place under his “watch”.
(For future reference, chasing underage interns on AIM = not so bad. Screwing with Republicans’ money is a firing offense.)
Bye, Tom. Hope K street treats you well. That’s one more expat, I guess.
hank Says:March 20th, 2008 at 8:26 am
DISCLAIMER—NOT A DEFENDER OF REYNOLDS–he’s an embarrasment to Republicans nationwide.
(Screwing with Republicans’ money is a firing offense.)
I’m not sure but I think the only way for a pol to get fired is to lose an election. Do Pols serve at the behest of the voters, or are they appointed by the party?
Spitzer was “anointed” by the NYS Democratic Party, as was Hillary Clinton…
How’s THAT working out for all of you?
I see there is no sign of that bird species that has been on the endangered list in WNY for some time— the Construction Crane, and the jobs that come with them.
I’m still waiting to see those hundreds of thousands of JOBS that Clinton promised.
And everyone ran out and voted her in Again….good on y’all for that.
Chris Smith Says:March 20th, 2008 at 8:26 am
I’ll bet Chris Collins heard about this and proceeded to kick himself in the ass.
Mike In WNY Says:March 20th, 2008 at 8:41 am
Hopefully the Republicans will come up with a true conservative, liberty-loving, constitutionalist and provide voters with a real choice for a change.
Stephen Nazwisko Says:March 20th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Geek-
What says Collins won’t run?
Chris Smith Says:March 20th, 2008 at 9:00 am
I’m not saying he won’t, but I’d be surprised if he did. He certainly would start out with a credibility gap if he were to roll right into a Congressional race.
Chris Smith Says:March 20th, 2008 at 9:14 am
On the Republican side, Maziarz could make a run, but I’m not sure he lives in the district. Ultimately, it would make a lot of sense for Jack Davis to run as a Republican and take on Powers.
Russell Says:March 20th, 2008 at 9:34 am
I really doubt the Republicans want Davis. The News listed Maziarz and Hayes and both seem reasonable to me. I have no idea where exactly Maziarz lives, but it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t live in the district. You don’t have to take up residence in the district until 6 months after you’re elected.
Buffalopundit Says:March 20th, 2008 at 9:40 am
A representative to the USHR doesn’t have to live in the district at all, ever. He merely has to be domiciled in the same state as the district.
Although it sure would be … interesting … to have Maziarz run for the 26th from his Newfane home in the 28th.
Rob Says:March 20th, 2008 at 9:45 am
That’s 27 Republicans from the 110th Congress who have bailed out, with more surely to follow. Boy, the national Democratic party sure is in disarray. Snark.
Chris Smith Says:March 20th, 2008 at 9:46 am
This could explain why Hayes was so quick to turn down the opportunity to run for Rath’s State Senate seat.
Hey, can Mike Failenhofer run for this seat? That would be big time failerific!
Russell Says:March 20th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Was Reynolds still living in Springville when he first ran for this seat, or did he move to Clarence when he threw his hat into the ring?
Stephen Nazwisko Says:March 20th, 2008 at 10:12 am
He moved to Clarence in September 1999. He won his race 10 months prior.
Russell Says:March 20th, 2008 at 10:18 am
So there you go, Pundit, and Newfane is much closer to the district than Springville was, not that that matters.
Joseph Says:March 20th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Looks like the Republicans have shot down any chance of Hayes moving up the ladder - he thought that Mary Lou woud resign and he would win her seat in a special election. Now he has to give up his Assembly seat if he wants to run for Congress. His dirty tricks have caught up with him, maybe his good buddy and political friend “Republican turned Democrat” Satish Mohan can give him a job with the Town. Too bad Jim doesn’t have any qualifications.
lulu Says:March 20th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Maziarz doesn’t want it.
Buffalopundit Says:March 20th, 2008 at 10:33 am
*Sigh*. Is there any stupid little thing you won’t try to pick an argument with me over?
I didn’t say Maziarz’s residence in Newfane “mattered”. I said it would make the race interesting. From just looking in Wikipedia, we learn:
So, there was “controversy” in 1998 over it, which would - in my opinion - make the race “interesting”.
Is that ok by you? My choice of words?
KevinP Says:March 20th, 2008 at 11:27 am
I think he’s just moving on to another career. After all, someone had to take over for Brian Campbell as the spokesman for the Center for Excessive Sweating.
Russell Says:March 20th, 2008 at 11:33 am
I wasn’t looking for a fight. I was just pointing out that I thought it was the case last time it was an open seat and it didn’t really matter much. Sure, you can use the term controversy because I think that would always be controversial, but it didn’t make the ‘98 race interesting.
Ward Says:March 20th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Good one KevinP.
Of course, this means that Pundit’s former Crazy-Uncle candidate Jack Davis will be all over this thing like the party guest who won’t leave (sorry for re-using a Bill Clinton simile). Enjoy Mr. One Issue and his self-bought radio barrage for the next four months.
davvid Says:March 20th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
its about damn time
rochesterturning.com: turning the tide upstate Says:March 20th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
[…] (picture courtesy of BuffaloPundit) […]
Joe Genco Says:March 20th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I say Hayes runs because his seat means less in the Assembly than Maziarz in the Senate. Keep your eye on Henry Wojtaszek as well.
Mike from Grand Island Says:March 20th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Maziarz just takes up space - zero.
Hayes seems OK just because I’ve never seen him be a dick.
Powers earned it.
Davis is a single issue goof and he’s only half right on it.
whose the other lady? nuff said
steve Says:March 21st, 2008 at 8:35 am
Mike from GI — How, exactly, did Powers earn the nod? With all due respect to his service to our country, I don’t see how that automatically qualifies him to serve in Congress. Doesn’t disqualify him, to be sure, but a perusal of his positions on his web page showed me a lot of “will lead by example” without actually saying what he would do.
That said, he may still be the most qualified of the identified Dems, ‘cuz it’s hard to argue with your assessment of the other two. Having the endorsement of the Niagara Dem exec committee could be the kiss of death for Powers, though. Truely the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.
As for the GOPers, I would argue that Maziarz has more substance than you give him credit for (ask the folks in Niagara Falls, who go to him for help rather than the Senator who actually represents the Falls). Hayes is well-liked, I think, but as an Assembly Repub hasn’t had much opportunity to build a track record.
Russell Says:March 21st, 2008 at 8:46 am
Now that this is an open seat, things could change a whole lot on the Dem side. There may be a few more people throwing their hats into the ring. All this groundwork already laid by Powers could end up being for nought.
Mr. Pink Says:March 21st, 2008 at 9:12 am
Maziarz is 54 years old and lived in the Congressional district for 50 years of his life. His current residence in Newfane is literally across the street from the Congressional district and the bulk of his current Senate District falls within the Congressional lines.
If he chooses to run…and that’s a big if… this races is over and he wins in a walk. How do I know this? Because the Dems have to essentially repeat the success they had two years againts Tom plus a little to win.
I don’t think anyone doubts that Maziarz will perform as well as Tom did in most parts of the district. So what’s the difference? Niagara County.
Reynolds lost it by a few thousand. Maziarz wins it by probably 7000…Niagara County is Maziarz country through and through. That’s a 10,000 vote swing and the race is over.
Sorry to everyone hoping for an exciting election. Once the polls are in, the Democrats go spend their money against Randy Kuhl and the Syracuse open seat.
it's all about the pin Says:March 21st, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Maziarz is a piece of drift wood.