New York State is already over-taxed, over-regulated, and being run into the ground by Democrats at all levels of state government. This article explains what is at stake in the 61st State Senate District election:

There’s no shortage of big, important political races this fall, but it’s hard to imagine a local contest where the choices are as clear and the implications as serious.

Voters in the largely suburban and rural, and mostly Republican, 61st State Senate District may very well decide the power structure of New York State politics.

In doing so, they will choose between a veteran Republican lawmaker with staunchly conservative credentials and a Democratic newcomer with ties to some of his party’s most liberal allies.

New York State cannot afford one-party rule. It is ruining Massachusetts as we speak… Let’s not make the same mistake.

Even the left-leaning Buffalo News recognizes that Baby Joe Mesi is “out of his element.”

61st District: Michael H. Ranzenhofer. Erie County Legislator Michael H. Ranzenhofer is the easy endorsement in this race to succeed the retiring Mary Lou Rath. Republican Ranzenhofer is well informed about the issues and understands the challenges facing residents of the nation’s highest-taxed state.

The Democrat in this race is boxer-turned-politician Joe Mesi, an instantly likable man who, despite his best efforts and good coaching, is out of his element at this point in his political development.

Vote Ranzenhofer.

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UPDATE: The DCCC and Alice Kryzan are continuing their smear campaign against Chris Lee… Here a mailer that was recently sent out:

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This ad appeared in the Buffalo News yesterday (click for a larger version):

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The Buffalo Bean recently had the opportunity to interview Dan Humiston, candidate for U.S. Congress in New York’s 27th district. The interview was conducted via email and is posted below:

THE BUFFALO BEAN: You were quoted in the Buffalo News last week saying that when things are bad “you want to shake things up.” How would you shake up Washington?

DAN HUMISTON: I would shake things up in two very important ways: First I would bring a new perspective to the job; the perspective of a entrepreneur who has personal experience in creating jobs, making payroll and having to operate within a budget; things that career politicians have never had to do. Second, I would not be afraid to buck the House leadership, I don’t think Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank know a thing about Western New York and I would stand up to them when it is in the interest of the 27th district. `

TBB: You’ve been very critical of your opponent, Brian Higgins, for his vote for the $700 billion bailout. From talking with the voters in your district, have you found a lot of anger over this issue?

DH: Western New Yorkers didn’t create the financial crisis but now we have to pay for it, you bet voters in this district are unhappy about that bailout. I was on record against the bailout before the first vote because I knew it was it wasn’t fair to Western New Yorkers. Unfortunately, too many members of Congress ignored their constituents and caved to pressure from their party.

TBB: Higgins claims a lot of credit for making things happen in the 27th district. Is that credit deserved?

DH: I am sure Brian Higgins made some things happen during his time in Congress but he has done nothing to impact the most important issue facing this region, creating, keeping and attracting jobs. There over 70,000 fewer people living here today than lived here when he first took office in 1988. If I am elected to Congress, growing the population will be my priority.

TBB: You have spent the majority of the campaign out on trail by yourself. It was only recently that Brian Higgins seemed to acknowledge your presence in the race, even agreeing to a number of debates. What do you think accounts for Higgins’ sudden interest in his reelection campaign?

DH: That is a question that you need to ask Brian Higgins but I can tell you this; people are worried about the direction of this county; Congress’s approval ratings are the lowest they have ever been and the voters are mad about the bailout. Business as usual isn’t working and many see an opportunity for change in my candidacy.

TBB: The dominant theme of this election season has been “change.” Please explain how you will do things differently than your opponent in Congress.

DH:The biggest difference between Brian Higgins and me is our respective backgrounds. I am an entrepreneur, my background is in business. Brian’s a politician whose background is in government.

Entrepreneurs who are successful in business are good at managing constant change, at taking risks, and turning problems into opportunities.

Politicians who are successful in government are good at managing the status quo, at avoiding risk and turning opportunities into problems.

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At the Clarence Candidates’ Forum yesterday, Alice Kryzan made a bit of a gaffe in not only flip flopping on her position on special interests, but by saying she work hard for the hard working people of the 25th district.

Of course she’s running in the 26h District.. so … woops.

The left-wing Buffalo Pundit was able to make it to the event, and decided to do a bit of preemptive damage control for Alice in Wonderland:

At one point, Kryzan slipped and said “25th” when she meant “26th” district. A dopey misstatement, but a misstatement nonetheless, and I have no doubt that the Republicans will try to make some hay with it about Kryzan not knowing what district she’s running in.

Uh huh… and had had Chris Lee made the the same mistake does anyone doubt that we’d have seen some picture of Lee with some witty “FAIL” caption on it?

While I am sure at this point Alice has managed to memorize what district she lives in, it serves as a reminder that Alice doesn’t really have much knowledge about the local issues.

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I have just recieved word that Jon Powers will remain on the ballot on the Working Families Party line.

More details to come.

UPDATE: The decision.

UPDATE: In the end I don’t think this decision will have any impact on the election. it seems to me that electoral fusion has just become another device that shifts the electoral process into the courts. In 2006, I, along with a majority of Massachusetts voters, defeated a proposal to bring electoral fusion to the state. Since I moved to Western New York, I have seen why it was the right choice…  Electoral fusion, from what I understand is meant to give more attention to the issues championed by these small minor parties, but instead is more about the candidate getting more lines on the ballot, as if that somehow matters.

UPDATE: Via Buffalo Pundit, here the Kryzan campaign’s whiney statement: 

Today, the New York State Supreme Court ruled in favor of Christopher Lee’s effort to keep Alice Kryzan from appearing on the Working Family Party line.

Anne Wadsworth, Sr Campaign Advisor said: “This is nothing more than the Republican machine’s attempt to make a mockery of the Democratic process. Jon Powers is not a candidate for Congress, he does not live in the state of New York and therefore by state law is ineligible to appear on the ballot. Clearly Republicans are struggling to come up with a winning message and are therefore playing Karl Rove-like antics in an attempt to steal the election. Alice got into this campaign because she believes that with new leadership we can bring jobs and prosperity back to Western New York. Republicans can play all the political games and use all the smear tactics they want, but we are confident that come November 4th Western New York will see through the mud and elect Alice Kryzan because she represents the positive change we need with integrity and independence.”

Cry me a river, Anne. Seriously.  Aside from the ridiculous left-wing talking points, the weight given to these minor party lines is, in  my opinion, overestimated.

But I do want to address the charge that the ruling was “nothing more than the Republican machine’s attempt to make a mockery of the Democratic process,” and Republicans are “playing Karl Rove-like antics in an attempt to steal the election.”

One of the cases cited in the ruling as precedent was Texas Democratic Party v. Benkiser. For those of who don’t recall, that was the case involving former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in 2006. DeLay had not only officially retired, but had moved out of state. Despite these facts, and the fact that a replacement candidate had already been chosen, the state Democratic Party fought (successfully) to keep him on the ballot. So, no one, not even Anne Wadsworth, can pin this on “Karl Rove-like antics” when Democrats set that precedent.

Howard Dean-like antics would be more appropriate and accurate. 

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I just got a campaign email from Alice Kryzan. I found the following part of it interesting:

On Monday, Jon Powers and I will be hitting the pavement and talking to voters in Rochester, Geneseo, Batavia and Williamsville about importance of this election to the working families of Western New York.

Oh really? Is Jon Powers in town campaigning with Alice? I thought he moved to Virginia for a job? It must be tough starting a new job in Virginia when you are campaigning in Western New York.

If Jon Powers really did move to Virginia for a job (which is the Kryzan campaign’s whole case for giving her the Working Families Party line) then what is he doing in Western New York? Has he really moved yet? Shouldn’t he be in Virginia, starting that new job or unpacking his belongings?

Perhaps he is only in Virginia in his mind.

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Today, Vets for Freedom, the largest Iraq and Afghanistan veterans’ organization in America, endorsed Chris Lee for congress. David Bellavia, decorated Iraq War veteran and Vets for Freedom Co-Chairman was with Lee today to announce the endorsement.

“As a veteran who has proudly served my country in the United States Army, I am here to speak on behalf of Vets for Freedom in offering our support of Chris Lee for United States Congress,” said Vets for Freedom Co-Chairman David Bellavia. “Chris understands that the fight we are currently undertaking in Iraq is essential to our success in the global fight against Islamic extremism. Vets for Freedom looks forward to working with Chris in Congress.”

“It’s an honor to have the endorsement of Vets for Freedom,” said Chris Lee. “In Congress, my commitment to our service members and veterans will be absolute. I’ll fight to ensure we have world-class care at our VA facilities, our troops have the equipment they need to succeed and the proper benefits they deserve when they come home from the battlefield.”

Vets for Freedom is a nonpartisan organization established by combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their mission is to educate the American public about the importance of achieving success in these conflicts by applying first-hand knowledge to issues of American strategy and tactics in Iraq. Vets for Freedom supports policymakers from both sides of the aisle who have stood behind the great generation of American warriors on the battlefield, and who have put long-term national security before short-term partisan political gain. Vets for Freedom is the largest Iraq and Afghanistan veterans organization in America.

And Alice Kryzan has Jon Powers, the Iraq War veteran who created a charity meant to help Iraqi children, but helped his own bank account a lot more.

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As I’ve noted before, Alice Kryzan talks the talk against special interest money, but doesn’t walk the walk… well her latest filings show she still taking in special interest money:

From her 10/20 filing:

• $1,000 Feminist Majority PAC
• $1,000 Nita Lowey for Congress

From her 10/22 filing:

• $2,000 Citizens for Eleanor Holmes Norton
• $2,000 Higgins for Congress
• $2,500 Jerry’s PAC
• $2,500 KIDS PAC
• $5,000 New Democrat Coalition PAC
• $5,000 United Transportation

That’s another $21,000 in special interest cash… that she said herself was ”the root of all evil.” 

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Back in March, Buffalo Pundit had nothing but praise for Dennis Delano, calling him “a Buffalo Hero” for his role in the release and exoneration of Anthony Capozzi and Lynn DeJac.

Of course, now that Dennis Delano is running for the State Senate as a Republican and Buffalo Pundit is a Democrat his feelings about the Buffalo Hero have soured. Yesterday Buffalo Pundit questioned Delano’s role in exonerating Capozzi and DeJac:

Dennis Delano may have a public image of being a mavericky hero cop, but some of his colleagues are challenging that perception, wondering where he gets off taking all the credit for something that was not only done by a team of people, but also a very long time in coming.

Today he also mocked Delano as “the guy running against Stachowski” who is “taking all the credit for something a lot of people had a hand in doing.”

I guess it isn’t too surprising. Buffalo Pundit has justified supporting unqualified candidates over career politicians just for being career politicians. Yet now he attacks the credibility of a genuine hero (who is a Republican) while trumping up Bill Stachowski, a career politician (who is a Democrat).

UPDATE: Looks like I struck a nerve…
 

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Earlier today, Buffalo Pundit regurgitated claims by WNYMedia that Chris Lee has been MIA on the campaign trail. According to WNYM’s Mark Odien, Chris Lee “has been avoiding the press and the public like the plague.” Odien deosn’t say this is his opinion, he says it is a fact.

Their claim is ignorant at best, but more likely a fabricated lie.

It was just last week that Alice Kryzan, not Chris Lee, who skipped out on a candidates debate in Amherst hosted by the League of Women Voters. Curiously, Buffalo Pundit made no mention of Kryzan’s cowardice at that event. He’s been silent about a lot things about Alice Kryzan, like her special interest money and her lack of knowledge of so major local issues. Alice also has not done a Question the Candidate segment with Channel 7… Chris Lee has. WKBW Chan 7 Anchor Keith Radford even said, “We also offered this free time for a response to Democratic Congressional candidate Alice Kryzan she declined to take part.”

Where’s the criticism for Alice from Buffalo Pundit and other left-wing WNY bloggers? Unless they’re living under a rock, they must know she has been ducking intorviews and debates left and right… but you wouldn’t know it by reading their blogs.

UPDATE: It doesn’t look like Alice has bothered to show up at WROC 8 yet either… But Chris Lee has.

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It appears that Alice Kryzan is still looking to get on the Working Families Party line…

The Working Families Party has gone to court to name Democrat Alice J. Kryzan its candidate in the 26th Congressional District contest against Republican Chris Lee.

Bob Brehm, spokesman for the state Board of Elections, said Monday that the board last week came to no agreement on the Working Families Party’s attempt to substitute Kryzan’s name on the line in place of Jon Powers, who earlier this year won the party’s nomination but subsequently lost the Democratic primary. Powers filed a statement indicating he moved out of state, a basis for removal from the line.

But Republican members blocked the move on the board level, with GOP election lawyers previously indicating the move did not fulfill constitutional requirements.

If successful, the move would provide a major boost to the Kryzan campaign, since she appears on only the Democratic line, while Lee has the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines.

Justice Joseph Teresi is slated to hear the case in in Albany on Thursday.

With two weeks to go before the election, i don’t think Alice will have much luck… and I don’t think it is really worth all the fuss.

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The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle offers a bizarre endorsement of Alice Kryzan:

Democrat Alice Kryzan is an environmental attorney who believes she can defy the odds in the Republican-dominated 26th Congressional District and help make life better in this region.

So do we. The Democrat and Chronicle endorses Kryzan in the Nov. 4 general election.

She is opposed by Republican Chris Lee, who also is making his first foray into politics. However, Lee, the owner of a successful family business that operates internationally, failed to provide a strong enough argument that he’d be the best successor to retiring Republican Rep. Tom Reynolds.

Kryzan not only persuaded us she has good ideas worth trying, but that she possesses the kind of personal decorum that seems to be in short supply in the public arena. She took the high road in the mudslinging Democratic primary campaign and was rewarded by voters with victory.

[...]

However, Lee’s criticism of Kryzan’s lack of familiarity with proposed Renaissance Square, the largest capital project in this region’s history, was valid. The project, after all, in some form could represent a major boost to the revitalization of downtown.

To adequately represent this region, Kryzan must thoroughly educate herself about its myriad concerns. She’s certainly capable.

So let me see if I understand this correctly… Kryvan demonstrates a lack of knowledge about the issues, but since she’s a Democrat and it has been a Republican district it’s okay…

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Listening to Mike Ranzenhofer and Baby Joe Mesi on WBEN with Kevin Hardwick… and it is quite clear why Baby Joe had previously been avoiding debating Ranzenhofer. While Mike is demonstrating a clear understanding of the issues and is giving definitive answers, Baby Joe is giving more wishy-washy answers about “looking into” this or “being open to” that. Baby Joe can’t commit to a tough position on an issue. Sad.

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Jon Powers has just sent an email to supporters endorsing Alice Kryzan, and encouraging his former supporters to do the same.

I wonder why he waited so long.

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Chris Lee’s campaign has exposed a huge lie of Alice Kryzan’s. Kryzan has been on the record for a year saying she would refuse contributions from special interests and lobbyists.  At the Democratic primary debate as Geneseo last month, she said the following:

I do not believe that you can go to Congress and be an independent voice of the 26th district when you have taken hundreds of thousands from PACs, lobbyists and special interests groups. Money is corrupting our political system. It is in some respects the root of all evil there … everywhere I go in this district people are telling me I want to see somebody like you in Congress, somebody who will fight for us, free of any taint, free of any link to these special interests who do except something in return for their donations.” 

Well, according to her FEC report, filed last night, she is very much indeed accepting contributions from special interests and lobbyists. 

• Kryzan’s Total Special Interest Contributions: $83,150
• Kryzan’s PAC Contributions: $69,000
• Kryzan’s Washington Establishment Contributions (Lobbyists, Members of Congress, House Staff): $14,150
• The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), which is financed by special interests, has pledged more than $1.5 million in NY-26 district before Election Day.

Andrea Bozek, Chris Lee for Congress spokeswoman said in a statement, “Alice Kryzan is learning fast how to be the kind of politician she promised not to be. How can the people of Western New York trust Alice Kryzan? For the past year she’s sworn off special interest money and now she’s taken nearly one hundred thousand dollars from special interest groups and political action committees.”

I guess, Alice Kryzan, by her own standard, is a tainted politician who cannot independently represent the 26th district.

It is also worth noting, as the 26th District Blog has discovered, that Jon Powers, who claimed he was not drawing a salary from his campaign funds, actually did, according to his FEC reports.

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