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The case of the missing Democratic congressional candidate

By Howard B. Owens

Has Jon Powers moved out of state without saying goodbye?  That appears to be the case.

Here's a Rochester Turning post on Powers being taken off the Working Families line:

Apparently, the move is now possible because Powers has moved out of the state. I can’t find that from any other news source, but if it is true, it is very disappointing. That, combined with his continued inability to just endorse Kryzan, is the kind of thing I would have expected from the Jack Davis campaign. But it seems all too clear now: Powers was in the race mostly for personal ambition and he’s just too bitter about losing to campaign for Alice Kryzan.

The Buffalo News reported Powers apparent relocation two days ago.

Alan Bedenko posted his thoughts, as well.

Who knows what's going on, but the fact that Democrat supporters are questioning events makes Powers quiet move out of state look sketchy. Was he really in this to make a difference for Western New York?

Daniel Jones

Your forgetting to mention that he has to move out of state in order to get himself taken off the Working Families Line, polling indicated that he was getting around 5 percent of the vote and would definitely act as a spoiler should he had remained on the line.

I think that this move isn't about his "personal ambition", I knew the man, people on both sides of the aisle know that he was in this to serve Western New York....Perhaps he's not particularly thrilled about Kryzan. I'm not, she's far from my first choice and my finger will probably burn as I pull the lever for her, but as Democrats its time for us to start uniting together behind her. What would show real pettiness would be boldly and loudly keeping himself on the line, whether he endorses her or not.

Oct 8, 2008, 9:39am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Daniel, do you know for a fact that he moved to be taken off the line, or are you just speculating on the speculation about it? I haven't seen -- though it would be easy enough for me to miss -- any statement by Powers saying anything like that, confirming the speculation at all.

If I missed it, I'm sorry, but it seems that Powers owes his supporters more of an explanation about what's going on.

Oct 8, 2008, 9:41am Permalink
Daniel Jones

New York State election law says that in order for him to be removed from the line he has to do three things.

1. Die (he's still breathing)
2. Get nominated for a judgeship (he doesn't have a law degree)
3. Move out of state.

I agree, and I'm still waiting to hear some sort of explanation, but I don't think that its right to determine that his entire candidacy was just a trigger for personal ambition because he moved.

Oct 8, 2008, 9:46am Permalink
scott rytlewski

Im affaid this wont happen i hope im wrong, but the constittution states the person has to live in the state at time of election as does the fedral election law, it wont make it out of the courts in time and the cost of reprinting the ballots and the remailing of military ballots as well as the absentee ballots most of these items have already been prepared stamped and sealed

Oct 8, 2008, 10:37am Permalink
Patrick D. Burk

Although I generally see this to be a problem for Jon's reputation, it is true that it may be his way to get off the line without endorsing the other candidate. I think it could be viewed as petty of him as well. He could have made a general announcement that he is not in the running anymore because he has accepted an opportunity in another state. I find it odd that he said nothing. Also, when you travel in some areas of WNY, his signs are still up in people's lawns..not just by the roadside, but actually in people's lawns.

I agree with Dan, we have to give him the benefit of the doubt....but please someone who knows should make some sort of statement. In the meantime..... I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT Alice Kryzan. She is qualified to address many of our current issues and will work hard for this area. She is familiar with Batavia and Genesee County as she worked for the Town of Batavia to help them recover costs and work out issues during the landfill problem.

Chris Lee sounds like a nice guy, but just because family money plops a factory in his lap, it doesn't mean he can govern nor even know what the middle class is going through. This one should be a squeaker.

Oct 8, 2008, 10:38am Permalink
Patrick D. Burk

I thought the ballots and such were not printed until after the last registration date which is Friday.... I may be wrong...but I think that is the case....

Oct 8, 2008, 10:39am Permalink
Daniel Jones

On October 16th the Democrats will be having a meet and greet night with our candidates, including Alice Kryzan and also with Joe Mesi, our candidate for the State Senate. I look forward to meeting Alice then as our candidate, I've heard nothing but good things about her and I'm sure that she is wholly qualified.

Oct 8, 2008, 11:11am Permalink
scott rytlewski

they are all ready done as i talk to the election commissoner who said she had the miltary ones stuffed and ready to mail her in orleans just remember other than addressing the mailing envelope you have to stuff the write ballot based on conressional distric so many of the election office has 2or3 districs not to say about small town election so they cant wait till next monday there just to much hand labor that has to be done because after all the absentees are done then all the new regstation have to be put in the proper spots to

Oct 8, 2008, 11:36am Permalink
Mark Potwora

If Jon Powers really cared about western new york he would not just up and move out of state for the good of the party...You would think he would want to stay and fight for his causes,whether it be on some kind of town board,school board,so many places that he could push his views,or just become more of a leader in his party.Sounds like his true colors came out...

Oct 8, 2008, 1:00pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Mark, I could see him taking some sort of temporary position in Washington with the intent to return and get busy doing good stuff around here -- giving him the benefit of the doubt, as Daniel says.

What I don't get is the appearance of leaving without any sort of announcement as to his plans. No public, "thanks for the support, I still believe I have a role to play int making WNY better and stronger. I have an opportunity in DC I'm going to pursue, but within a year I'll return and look for opportunities to serve locally."

Essy statement to make and he doesn't even have to say word one way or another about Kryzan ... but his thanks for support, I would think, should go beyond just a few core group of people and extend to all the people who voted for him. It just seems like the right thing to do to let them know his immediate and future plans.

Unless he views his run for congress as just part of his job search.

Oct 8, 2008, 1:26pm Permalink
Daniel Jones

Well, I can't speak for Jon, a statement is up to him....although knowing the kind of intgrity that Jon Powers has, I'm sure that he didn't have "job search" in mind while he was running.

By vacating the line he helps Alice, who is much better poised to make a difference for Western New York. She's against bailing out billionare CEOs of large corporations, she's against these unfair trade agreements and wants to enforce environmental and worker rules and supports investing in an energy plan that isn't just "drill, baby, drill,", which Chris Lee supports.

Also, she's a Democrat, the Republicans have no chance at taking back the House this year, and thus if she gets elected will be in a much better position to provide funding for local governments and organizations in our district.

Jon Powers cares about this district and Western New York enough to not want to spoil a race in which Chris Lee would end up our congressman. Chris might be a good guy, but he is someone who would vote against the interests of Western New York and would be in a bad position to get us federal investments.

Oct 8, 2008, 2:26pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

I say vote for the best candidate..Not who has a R or D after there name..Alice is alittle to late on bailing out billionare CEOs.The democrats allready did last week...Also the democrats lifted the ban on off shore oil drilling a couple of weeks ago..She doesn't seem to be in line with her own party...maybe thats why Jon Powers didnt endorse her...

Oct 8, 2008, 3:00pm Permalink
Tom Gilliatt

Don't mean to throw a wrench into it but it really don't matter who you vote for like you said because I say the United States is going down the toilet now matter who gets to SIT in the office seat.

I know it is a crappy way to look at it and I'm sorry but at the age of 42 married 14 years with 3 kids and worked all my like I see the same thing all the time "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer" same old saying but I can't help it when I try to buy food and pay bills. So for people like me the struggle continues and it gets harder as time goes. So sorry if I don't talk up any of the candidates talked about on the forum.

Here is a funny email I got that sort of fits some of the topics here check it out
______________________________________________________

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter. 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.'

'No problem, just let me in,' says the man.

'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.'

'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the senator.

'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly & nice guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

'Now it's time to visit heaven.'

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.'

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.'

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. 'I don't understand,' stammers the senator. 'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.
What happened?'

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, 'Yesterday we were campaigning.. ..

Today you voted.
______________________________________________________

Tom

Oct 8, 2008, 3:33pm Permalink
scott rytlewski

dose any one care to guess how many thousand of dollars the tax payer will have to shell out to have jon removed and alice put on

4-small counties maybe 2500
3-large counties maybe 10,000
-----------
40,000
is forty thousand worth a line and is it fair to the tax payers 25 days befor the election

this should have been done a day after the election

if some one else cares to quest feel free

ps, i think i spelled all the words right!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oct 8, 2008, 5:52pm Permalink
John Roach

That was very good. While I didn't like Jack Davis, I did like Powers better. I was right about Davis, but wrong on Powers. Seeing how he has behaved, he would not have been a good pick for Congress. Let's hope he stays away in the future.

Oct 9, 2008, 6:03am Permalink
Charlie Mallow

Wow, two out of touch millionaires insulting each other and talking about subjects they do not have a clue about. Good luck with the ratings on that, the Baseball game; Survivor and This Old House are better choices tonight.

Oct 9, 2008, 3:43pm Permalink
Tom Gilliatt

I won't be watching either I'm a scifi and Discovery channel freak... Got to love StarGate... Well maybe not but I do.

and Thanks Ron for compliment

Oct 9, 2008, 4:52pm Permalink

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