For those of you from New York state, or anywhere else, for that matter, with an interest in the possibilities here in the 25th Congressional District of NY, the good news is: we will actually have a Democratic candidate this year, unlike 2004, when James Walsh ran with token opposition from the local Green Party, and no Democratic opponent.
Most recently Dan Maffei headed up the campaign for the re-election of Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll. While Driscoll's a Democrat in a heavily Demoratic city (registration-wise), the Republicans threw everything and the kitchen sink at him, including the full resources of local billionaire William Congel, who dislikes the fact that Mayor Driscoll is trying to hold Congel's feet to the fire in terms of adhering to their previous promises in their PILOT agreement (Payment In Lieu of Taxes, generally used here in NY State to give tax breaks for economic development projects) on a major mall development (DESTINY USA).
Maffei helped Driscoll win a hard-fought battle against the combined forces of the county Republican Committee (which is dominant due to a large county Republican registration edge), the state Republican party, Congel and a telegenic, young female Republican opponent (who, coincidentally, happens to also support Congel nearly 100% on his proposal, willing to give him virtually everything he wants in lieu of taxes).
There is actually a plethora of Democrats wanting to challenge Walsh this year, unlike in 2004, including a young female attorney from Webster, an eastern suburb of Rochester, and retired West Genesee High School teacher Ken Howland. Personally, am not committed to any Democrat yet, but Maffei seems to have the smarts, the connections and the potential resources to have an actual chance of at least giving Walsh a run for his money. There's a Republican voter registration edge in the district, but a Democrat can win if they get support from enough independents and disaffected Republicans.
Maffei, in addition to having served worked for two great senators, is from the area, and once worked at a local television station as a reporter/producer.
What has caught my attention about Maffei's web site is that he is framing the campaign as a referrendum on the Republican Congress, which may be very smart; there are a lot of independents and independent-minded Democrats and Republicans in this area, and while many of us who are more liberal do not like Walsh, voters in these parts do not seem to like the "politics of personal destruction" that sometimes works elsewhere. By going after an ineffective Republican Congress, Maffei does not have to come across as being real harsh on Walsh personally, yet has created a platform on which to challenge Walsh's blind obedience to the Republican Party and the monied interests that fund them, rather than the best interests of his constituents. (Walsh has carefully crafted an image as being "independent" by voting against his fellow Republicans, but usually when his vote doesn't matter, or on peripheral issues.)
Maffei will not have an easy time of it, running against a multi-term incumbent (nine terms, if member serves correctly (i.e. 18 years)) who is clearly in the pocket of the Republicans and military-industrial complex which funds them.
Will try again to follow the dailykos FAQ instructions for posting a link (which never works for me, for some reason). (If that doesn't work,
here's Dan Maffei's web site address:
maffeiforcongress.com)
here's my attempt at providing you a direct link:
Dan Maffei
In any case, it's good to know that the voters of this district will have a real choice this time around (other than just the same failed perennial candidates the Greens usually offer up in this area).