Posted on 06/03/2009 2:42:43 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
Several state lawmakers said today they are considering a run for Rep. John McHugh’s seat after he was tapped Tuesday by President Obama as secretary to the Army.
On the Democratic side, Sen. Darrel Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, appears to the party’s top potential candidate, and he said he will consider it.
“We haven’t ruled anything out,” Aubertine said, adding he will have to talk to his family.
Asked if he’s concerned that a move to Congress would leave the Democratic majority in the Senate vulnerable since he represents a heavily Republican district, he said, “I’m concerned about my colleagues here, and any decision I make will weigh all those issues.”
As for Republicans, the field seems much bigger: state Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, said he’s considering a run, saying “It’s been a honor to serve a lot of that area and advocate for that area.”
Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, who represents parts of four counties in the congressional district and Fort Drum, also said she’s interested, saying she hopes for a fair selection process.
Assemblyman Will Barclay, R-Pulaski, Oswego County, said he will also consider it. Even though he lost to Aubertine in a special election for the Senate last year, Barclay said he would still be a viable candidate, perhaps even more so because he’s already known in much of the district.
Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne said he’s been approached by many Republicans today and will also consider a run.
(Excerpt) Read more at polhudson.lohudblogs.com ...
The Republicans have a large field to choose from. I don’t know who is conservaive and who is RINO, but I don’t think we need a RINO to hold this district.
In a realted matter, there is a newly-elected ‘Rat state Senator who may run. The ‘Rats have a narrow, 32-to-30 majority in the state Senate, and if that Senator wins, Republicans have a great shot at winning the legislative district. It puts them in a bind.
Knock me over with a feather.
McHugh is very conservative.
Unfortunately, the only "reliable" conservatives in the New York delegation (in recent years anyway) were Vito Fossella, Tom Reynolds, and Randy Kuhl. The remaining New York Republican Congressmen ranged from moderate center-right types to total RINO douchebags. Chris Lee just got elected, so he hasn't complied a record long enough to judge.
We can hope for two things: one, the NYGOP nominates a strong candidate with a good solid conservative record (the latter of which McHugh lacked). Two, the NYGOP doesn't screw this one up the way they did with Tedisco's race. If they manage to lose this one as well, they'll be down to a pathetic TWO congressional seats out of nearly 30.
If I had to place a bet, I'd say they eek out of a win here and get at least an acceptable Republican to replace to McHugh. However -- given the NYGOP's pathetic track record since 2006 -- I am not optimistic. This district isn't nearly as Republican as Gillibrand's. It's very possible the NYGOP could screw up and lose another seat to the RATs.
Maybe in general, but for NY that's phenomenal.
I'd sure take more of him, especially since we lost Walsh.
Probably likely....
McHugh had no business voting liberal 60% of the time last year if he wants to call himself a “Republican”. Sounds like he started getting cozy with the liberals and that's why he's accepted a position working for Obama now and put another GOP-held seat in danger.
If the Republican Party is going to survive as a national party, it has to have a national, unified agenda. We can't make excuses that just because some state voted for Obama, the “opposition” party there is allowed to co-op their agenda.
The RINOs are already in full gear trying to grab this seat. GOP Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, mentioned above, is NARAL-endorsed and voted for gay ‘marriage’. GOPer Will Barclay is NARAL-endorsed and earned it.
Conservatives: Wright, Little, Meier aren’t running. Sen. Darrel Aubertine (D) has an anti-choice rating from NARAL and opposes gay marriage.
Griffo, Champagne, and (McHugh’s chief of staff) Robert Taub: not obvious where they stand on issues. Griffo has a reputation of being a conservative. He is new. But not young. The RINOs will take this seat for themselves if the conservatives stand by and watch them. This is the “Canadian border district” and is socially conservative. It would be devastating to let the RINOs win this by default.
Sounds like the Republicans should recruit Aubertine. If the Dems nominate him and the GOP puts up Scuzzyfava, you can guess which one I’ll endorse. The GOP has a decided death wish when it lets the left dictate which direction it should go.
They insist that's the case every time, even if the specific Congressional district within the "Democrat state" is drawn to be as safely Republican as it gets (RINO Peter King represents a heavily GOP drawn district and freepers make excuses for him being a RINO all the time "cuz it's New York and he has to be that way"). Hell, some freepers even argued that "only Lisa Murcowski" could "win" in Alaska, despite it being one of the strongest GOP states in the nation.
Next we'll be hearing that "only RINOs" can "win" in Wyoming, I suppose.
Make no mistake about it, the GOP establishment crowd pushing for RINOs get some help from the useful idiot wing of conservatism.
Joe Griffo is thinking of running. He’s been approached.
http://www.newzjunky.com/news/0602griffo.htm
He sounds like one of the better ones. The only potential problem is that he’s from the southern end of the district.
It’s only slightly a less GOP seat going by potus voting than the 20th.
23rd
2008 52% D 47% R
2004 51% R 47% D
2000 49% R 47% D
20th
2008 51% D 48% R
2004 53% R 45% D
2000 51% R 45% D
Irish and French/Canadian influence? Economy? I know upstate NY has been rough going with the economy. A populist candidate may work best. The locals know more than I do though.
One name I ran into as a potential Republican candidate is Essex County District Attorney Julia Garcia. I wish I could find out something about her.
Aubertine is one of those Schumer-Rahm candidates they like to recruit in GOP districts.
If GOP Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava gets the nod, we can’t blame the GOP establishment. It will be because she worked for the nomination while the grass-roots conservatives waited around to see what would happen.
“We’ll see what develops”, said the conservative activists.
all of these could be conservatives, but not enough details are known:
McHugh’s chief of staff, Robert Taub
Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne
Plattsburgh Mayor Donald Kasprzak
One Republican interested in running is Franklin County Legislator Paul Maroun of Tupper Lake. Maroun, a member of the U.S. Naval Reserves, said it is important that whoever runs has some military experience. “I am interested, and I have the experience,” he said.
Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne, a Republican. “I am clearly interested, but it is something that will be a family decision,” Champagne said.
He is due to run for another term as district attorney this fall and has been endorsed by both the Republican and Democratic parties. “We will talk about this quickly and weigh the pros and cons and go from there,” Champagne said.
Plattsburgh Mayor Donald Kasprzak, a strong Republican, did not rule out a run.
“It is much too early to make an important decision like that, but I am flattered that my name has been mentioned,” he said. “I am sure I will be talking to a lot of people about this, but it is premature to say anything right now.”
Matthew Doheny, a Manhattan attorney who grew up in the district and still owns a home in Watertown, is also reported to be interested in running as a Republican.
All I can find is that the County GOP Committee is backing someone else for DA in the next election.
http://www.pressrepublican.com/homepage/local_story_091041856.html
Griffo supports traditional marriage:
http://www.nyssenate47.com/47/news/09-04-16/griffo_issues_statement_on_marriage.aspx
“Marriage is one of the most valued and sacred aspects of our society. It is more than just one of the basic civil rights to which all people are entitled. Marriage between a man and a woman is one of the cornerstone institutions in our culture, and an important sacrament in the Catholic Church. I do not believe that changing its definition under state law is appropriate,” Griffo said. “Traditional beliefs that define a family structure as based on marriage between a man and a woman are part of the bedrock values in the region I serve as Senator.”
thus far, I am a Griffo man for this seat.
Griffo sounds good on the issues (check Posting #19). I just wonder how he’ll play in the northern part of the district?
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