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Kryzan profiled as true Democrat, environmental candidate

By Howard B. Owens

Joyce Miles of the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal offers a profile of sorts of Alice Kryzan, Democratic candidate for the 26th Congressional District, and suggest that Kryzan has deeper roots in her party than either of her opponents.

In person, Kryzan’s manner is soft-spoken and elegant, yet down-to-earth and steeped with a sense of mission. She’s proud of her Democratic roots — her dad was a mayor of their hometown, Youngstown, Ohio, and was among the first Ohio Democrats to throw in with John F. Kennedy for President in 1960 — and she doesn’t hesitate to point out that her competitors are both former Republicans.

Is being more Democrat-than-thou a virtue in a Republican-leaning district?

As for coverage of her policy statements, it's all about the environment.

She wrote a fairly extensive policy statement linking environmental protection, U.S. energy independence and western New York economic growth opportunities. Among other things, the statement calls for a federal goal of 20 percent renewable-source power generation by 2020; a moratorium on construction of coal-fired power plants; enhanced federal tax credits for renewable energy producers and no new drilling for oil; ramped-up fuel economy standards for vehicles and expanded public transportation; sprawl control and encouragement of “walkable” communities. For western New York, she picks ecotourism and development of “green” industries like biofuels as growth engines.

Kryzan acknowledges the plan is ambitious but she’d argue it’s no more so than President Kennedy’s call to send men to the moon. She figures that got done and so can this.

“All we have to say is say, ‘we’re going to be energy independent in 10 years. We’re going to marshal all of our resources to do it,’” she said. “All we need are leaders who have the courage to do it and people to follow them.”

UPDATE: In other campaign news, the Buffalo News carries an article about Powers neglecting to mention War Kids Relief in his latest campaign literature.

In the campaign’s early days, his charity was mentioned often. But Democratic challengers Jack Davis and Alice Kryzan may have found the Achilles heel.

They’re kicking it at will, and probably will continue to do so until the three-way party primary vote on Sept. 9.

“It was the prominent aspect of his biography when he first started running for Congress,” said Kryzan campaign manager Anne Wadsorth. “And now that some questions have been raised concerning the charity and Jon Powers’ role in it, he has eliminated any reference to it as he talks about his experience.”

Any mention of War Kids Relief on the Jon Powers web site is also hard to find. At least, I couldn't find it without using Google to do a site search.  Ooops, I'm blind.  There's a button on the upper right of the home page. 

Russ Stresing

"Any mention of War Kids Relief on the Jon Powers web site is also hard to find. At least, I couldn't find it without using Google to do a site search."

Howard, click on this link and read to the right side of the very top of the page under the banner. http://www.powersforcongress.com/main.cfm?s=powers Then, look to the opposite side of the main page and find this http://www.powersforcongress.com/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticCont… I didn't need to Google anything to find it. I think your mischaracterization that the campaign is trying to hide from WKR is misinformed. An update to your main post would only seem fair.

Aug 31, 2008, 9:16am Permalink
Alan Bedenko

Um, there's a huge blue box that says "The Real War Kids Relief Story" right there on the front page of the site. It couldn't be easier to find.

Aug 31, 2008, 9:51am Permalink
Jerri Kaiser

Jon Powers' energy policy is stellar: http://www.powersforcongress.com/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticCont….

Kryzan was on the wrong side of the Love Canal issue and she donated money to Republican Tom Reynolds ($250), so her Democratic credentials are not stellar. Just being a Democrat longer doesn't make you a better Democratic candidate. How insulting to 18-year-olds who have just registered as Democrats. Are the youth of this district somehow not good Democrats because they had the gall not to be born earlier? Robert Harding of The Albany Project is one of the best Democrats I've encountered and he's all of 22 years old. I highly doubt he's given money to Tom Reynolds and I highly doubt he was on the wrong side of Love Canal.

And, the people are following Jon Powers. I've seen Jon's support out in the district yet I've seen hardly any support with Kryzan. Jon is a natural leader and he's a hard worker who has specific policy platforms on education, energy, agriculture, healthcare. He's holding forums in the community to listen to voters' concerns and then advocating for changes based on those conversations.

Jon Powers has been out in the district for a year now, knocking on doors and listening to the voters. He has the endorsement of all 7 counties and over 45 workers' groups. He's a hard working Democrat and he's proven it with his diligence.

In essence, Jon is already representing the voters of Western New York.

Aug 31, 2008, 9:51am Permalink
Robert Harding

Under the banner is the link for <a href="http://www.powersforcongress.com/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticCont… Real War Kids Relief Story"</a> and is also included in his <a href="http://www.powersforcongress.com/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticCont… By Example</a> page, which is more of a biography.

Everyone is trying to act like conspiracy theorists here as to why they wouldn't mention War Kids Relief in campaign literature. In my travels with Powers, early on in the campaign (a few months in, perhaps?) he would mention War Kids Relief. But after that, Powers' platform started to grow and he started talking issues.

There are two "inconvenient truths" for Kryzan that weren't mentioned in that fluff of a profile piece and that haven't been mentioned by any of the traditional media sources in this area. During the Love Canal disaster, Kryzan was a lawyer for Hooker Chemical/Occidental - the company responsible for the Love Canal disaster. This is a person using the environment as the main platform piece for her campaign and when discussing herself she is described as an "environmental attorney."

Kryzan's other "inconvenient truth" is that she gave $250 in 2000 to the man who, at the time, was the man she wanted to replace. Kryzan has told everyone that she is the only lifelong Democrat in this race. But she also gave $250 to Tom Reynolds in 2000.

I <a href="http://www.thealbanyproject.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1617">wrote about this in November 2007</a>. I haven't see this in any of the newspapers, nor have I seen it in any of the profiles about Kryzan. Could it be that the media has decided that she's not going to win and that the real race is between Davis and Powers? Perhaps. But I would still like to see the truth about all candidates out there. If Powers has to take heat for War Kids Relief, a noble idea and a charity that is still alive today, then Kryzan should take heat for the company she represented on the wrong side of the Love Canal case.

(<strong>NOTE: One newspaper, the <a href="http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/news/articles/POLITICS:+Red,+whit… City Newspaper</a>, did mention the Love Canal portion of Kryzan's biography when writing about this race. However, none of the major newspapers (Buffalo News, D & C) have mentioned that fact.)

Aug 31, 2008, 10:09am Permalink
Jerri Kaiser

I told the D&C about this so it mystifies me as to why they have not printed the Kryzan-Love Canal issue. I guess one can be an "environmental attorney" without expressing which side of the environment you're on.

Now for the WBEN debate starting right now with Kevin Hardwick...

Aug 31, 2008, 10:36am Permalink
Lorie Longhany

Here in Genesee County we have one Democratic candidate that has come here early and often talking to the voters in homes, coffee shops, out in neighborhoods, at veterans centers, and most recently he spoke to seniors about health care and social security at the Greens of LeRoy. http://www.thealbanyproject.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4188 That candidate is Jon Powers.

This is why Jon Powers has all the support. He is the people's candidate because he actually is meeting and listening to the people.

Aug 31, 2008, 10:57am Permalink
lazario ladou

20 percent renewable-source power generation by 2020
ooooh
she'll be dead and it'll happen without her being in the mix
How long has she been in politics? How long has she been alive? All about the environment, huh? She's 60. She's been contributing for 40 years and yet she's just now getting to renewable power...right in time for an election? 20%!! Holy-cow. Probably could have done that by 1995 if we had cared.

moratorium on construction of coal-fired power plants
ooooooh
Right when the renewable thing is taking off? ...right when people are trying to get rich off the next big thing not spend tons of money on something that may be obselete in less than 50 years she wants to ban coal plant building?
The people will likely take care of this themselves without having her anywhere in the mix

ramped-up fuel economy standards for vehicles and expanded public transportation
1980?
How often does she take the bus when not in the public eye?

Urban sprawl? Walking? Neighborhoods?
1980's
2008? SOMEONE HAS BEEN ^*)(*(# UP

For western New York, she picks ecotourism and development of “green” industries like biofuels as growth engines.
OOOOOOOOH

What else do we have a chance at? LOL
biofuel has been in the news for a handful of years already lady!
ecotourism? Sounds FANCY!
You mean ^#)$*%# camping, basically?
You can't build nature
Going to advertise our nature? wow
AMERICA IS FAT
WNY IS FATTER..and not only fat but unhealthy fat...and old

REAL GROWTH POTENTIAL
Who goes to a dentist with horrible teeth?

Kryzan acknowledges the plan is ambitious
REALLY? Ambitious?
If it is ambitious its because nobody
has cared about this *&)$ till now

Which is not ambition
it's uh being scared

she’d argue it’s no more so than President Kennedy’s call to send men to the moon

I bet she'd love to align herself in the minds of people with such a popular figure in american history as often as possible so sure she'd like to "argue" this point.
JFK JFK JFK JFK JFK JFK JFK TREES AND GRASS AND LOVE

All we need are leaders who have the courage to do it and people to follow them

courage? She's ONLY "calling" for this stuff because she HAS TO
IT'S MORE *&*%^)# POPULAR THAN MYSPACE

People are dumb
If this crap is her slogan she's dumb for thinking I'm this dumb

Nostradamus you are not!

Knocking on doors and talking to people does not make you a leader
SCHMOOZER more like it
You think he leaves homes before saying garbage like
SINCE I JUST SPENT THE LAST 16 MINUTES WITH YOU CAN I COUNT ON YOUR VOTE THIS UDFPSDFODSUFBDSUOF
getoffmystoop

"...and most recently he spoke to seniors about health care and social security at the Greens of LeRoy"

LMAO!!
You mean he didn't ask them about WWII, Victory Gardens, Flappers, Kodachrome, Dances, First Loves, the Studebaker, their children,

he
SPOKE TO THEM
about

EVERYTHING THAT SCARES OLD PEOPLE SILLY
their impending death
their social security that they live off of

Brilliant
NEVER BEFORE HAVE I HEARD OF A PERSON DOING SUCH THINGS AROUND ELECTION TIME
I BELIEVE PEOPLE LIKE THIS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WILL CHANGE THINGS

No vote from me

Aug 31, 2008, 9:47pm Permalink

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