Posted on 11/17/2007 2:41:55 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
A series of possible moves on the Western New York political chessboard could move one State Senate race from safe Republican to political toss-up just as Democrats make a play for control of the Senate.
Multiple sources in Western New York politics have confirmed that there is a strong possibility that Cong. Tom Reynolds (R–Erie) will not run for a sixth term next year, opening up a race for the seat by State Sen. George Maziarz (R–Niagara), thus placing Maziarz’ seat up for grabs.
Rumors of a potential Reynolds departure and a Maziarz play for a congressional seat have been flying around political circles in Buffalo and Niagara Falls for months, though Reynolds spokesman L.D. Platt denies the rumors and says the congressman will run again.
Maziarz has long been considered a likely Reynolds successor, as much of his current district overlaps with the congressional district. A longtime senator and former Niagara County Clerk, Maziarz is said to have long harbored congressional ambitions and could be looking for an exit strategy with a Democratic takeover of the Senate looking increasingly possible. Maziarz denies talk of both, noting that he does not believe either a congressional vacancy or party change in the Senate will occur.
(Excerpt) Read more at nycapitolnews.com ...
This is a legitimate worry, but the district that Tom Reynolds represents ins’t overwhelmingly Republican. And Maziarz might even be a stronger Congressional candidate than Reynolds is.
Rush let it be known that Spitzer said at a fundraiser that if the Dhimmis control the Senate, Gay Marriage will pass the NY legislature.
Its piling up so fast you need wings to stay above it, and thats damn near what we are going to need in 08 to avert a complete disaster.
Sorry, I am not an optimist, and I will not whistle past the graveyard that the 08 races may become.
We have a lot of work to do.
1. Reynolds' seat is pretty solidly Republican. He was for a while endangered in 2006, but only because he was accused of covering up Mark Foley's pedophilia, something that would hurt any politician anywhere. Replacing him with an undamaged Pubbie would eliminate any lingering ill-feeling.
2. The NY State Senate isn't about to go Dem. While that was a definite danger a few months ago, there has been a huge swing back from the Dems in recent months. Spitzer is now incredibly unpopular, and former Dem rising stars are now struggling to hold on, both upstate and on Long Island. Two weeks ago, we did super well in county elections Nassau (Long Island) and Erie (Buffalo area).
It could be tough. The last two times, Reynolds ran against businessman Jack Davis, who was basically a Democrat-in-name-only who switched parties from R to D specifically to run against Reynolds. He basically ran on a fiscal conservative/protectionist platform, and came close last year.
If Reynolds retires, and I’m not quite convinced that he will, things will get very interesting.
Only because he's an Albany RINO. Did you see the ridiculous story this week about how Maziarz and Hoyt (D) are standing up to the wasteful Thruway Authority by ordering an end to free Thruway travel for employees? It's the one perk they get that doesn't cost us anything.
That's our boy, Maziarz.
the republican, consevative, right to life parties died about a decade ago in my home state.
And better start hiding your guns because if you thought NY gun laws were bad now, just wait until the assembly, senate, and governor are all gun grabbing libs. Right now the senate is the only body keeping this state from becoming WORSE than California in terms of gun laws. Herr Spitzer is licking his chops just waiting to sign all those gun bans.
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