It was only two days ago that former Assemblyman and NYSERDA President Paul Tonko made his campaign for Congress official after months of speculation. It was a few weeks ago that seven of eight Democratic candidates were screened by the Albany County Democratic Committee for their endorsement.
At these two events, and at last week's eight-way debate, Paul Tonko made his argument that he could "hit the ground running" in Congress and on the campaign trail. Yet Phil Steck's strongly-worded resopnse to Tonko's announcement made it clear the primary will be a marathon. The Steck campaign appears to confirm this today by winning the endorsement of the Albany County Democratic Committee.
The full story below the fold...
This all gives the impression of a crowded field slowly evolving into a two-man race between a candidate of inevitablity and an upstart progressive's grassroots efforts catching up to them. Yet Paul Tonko will be offering Phil Steck a strong challenge and brings the early stage of the campaign full circle with his overwhelming support from officials who themselves faced heavy rumors that they would seek retiring Representative Mike McNulty's seat.
Response to Tonko's Announcement Questions Ability To Bring Change
On the day of Paul Tonko's announcement, candidates Tracey Brooks and Darius Shahinfar both issued short statements welcoming Mr. Tonko into the race. Phil Steck, an Albany County Legislator and Chair of the Colonie Democratic Committee, also welcomed him into the race.
But soon after, Steck set himself apart from the other candidates running against Paul Tonko, who is the big name to beat, and moves things straight to a debate on Tonko's long record in the Assembly and short tenure as New York's "energy czar.:
"I welcome Paul Tonko to the race formally and now we can have a full discussion about his record. A few nights ago, I spent several hours with Paul at a candidates’ forum where all candidates were talking about change. Well, talk is cheap.
Paul talks about experience, but for the past 24 years, he has been part of a political system in Albany that is broken. Paul talks about being an energy expert and his time as ‘energy czar,’ yet New York State has the second highest energy costs in the country (behind Hawaii). He is a member of the political establishment and simply has not delivered for the people of New York on energy.
We need someone in Washington who doesn’t just talk about change because it is the popular thing to do, but someone who will bring about real change. It was recently reported that gas prices have now reached $4.00 per gallon in the Capital Region. We can no longer afford to allow energy lobbyists and insiders to write our laws and stifle progress.
Emphasis added.
This is by far the strongest attack on Paul Tonko's record by any other candidate. Phil Steck's statement sends the race into a new stage of comparison and contrasting now that the candidates are all in. At this point, Phil Steck is the only one making charges against Paul Tonko's record, which is the cornerstone of Tonko's campaign.
Albany County Democratic Committee Endorses Phil Steck over Tonko, Brooks
Steck's statement may not have gotten much press coverage, and Tonko's announcement was by far the most heavily befriended by the media (who, interestingly, are slowly divorcing themselve from their former media-darling, candidate Tracey Brooks). But today he made the papers by winning the backing of the Albany County Democratic Committee against all odds.
ALBANY — A deeply divided Albany County Democratic Committee Wednesday night endorsed Phil Steck as its candidate for the 21st Congressional District.
Three Democrats vied for the endorsement: Steck, Tracey Brooks and Paul Tonko.
The endorsement of the Albany County committee will provide important support going into the Sept. 9 Democratic primary, said Steck spokesman Tom Nardacci. Albany County represents 55 percent of the primary vote in the district.
Emphasis added.
The endorsement is huge for the district as well as for the campaign. Again, over half the district votes there, and it should be noted that Steck is making inroads into the no-man's-land of Rennselaer County across the Hudson. It's also significant in how hard Steck fought for the endorsment against some splintering in the party, which interestingly enough sheds some light on the campaigns of inevitablity being waged by Tonko and Brooks:
The night was not without drama. Prior to the final vote, a faction supporting Brooks, led by Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings, walked out of the meeting. The faction consisted primarily of city Democratic Committee members.
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Jennings said Brooks and Tonko had agreed earlier to ask the committee not to make an endorsement. Steck pushed for one, however. He said he had the support of the party’s candidate screening committee, which had voted several weeks ago to support him with 10 votes. Tonko received nine votes from the committee and Brooks, two votes.
The Gazette's coverage is a nice break from the past; check it out if you would also like some details about what Tonko's entry in the race does for Fulton, Montgomery, and Schoharie and Schenectady Counties. The Times Union article details the Albany County Democratic Party's infighting, initiated mainly by Tracey Brooks supporters. They also quote Phil Steck, who keeps the pace of his reply to Tonko's announcement:
Steck dismissed the exodus, saying, "It shows they did not have the votes to win the nomination for any other candidate. It shows a very shallow commitment to the Democratic process. They only want a vote when they think they can win and when they cannot win, they take their ball and go home."
Also in response today, Paul Tonko brushed aside the current endorsement of the committee, and fell back on his record. Doing so may soon become a regular occurrence for the Tonko campaign:
"As a member of the Assembly, I repeatedly enjoyed the support of the Albany County Democratic Committee.
In recent weeks, I have had the opportunity to speak to many of its members personally, and address its candidate review committee. I thank them for their time and consideration and appreciate the significant support I have received thus far both publicly and privately."
Tonko Supported By A Wealth of Local Officials, Formerly Rumored Candidates
Still, for all of Tonko's shortfalls being pointed out here, the man has kicked off his campaign with a groundswell of support built on his years of experience in Capital Region politics. And he is recieving excellent (as always) coverage in the media; his campaign kickoff was a blowout event.
Hat tip to fellow TAPper JustAStudent's comment outlining just how extensive Mr. Tonko's support from elected officials is. One of the cornerstones of the Steck for Congress campaign has been the numerous endorsements by this group of people, "mini" super-delegates if you will. While Steck is giving Tonko a run for his money based on his record, Tonko truly is giving Steck a run for his money in the endorsements category.
[Paul Tonko has the support of:]
County Executive Mike Breslin
Assembly Democratic Majority Leader Ron Canestrati
Albany City Council President Shawn Morris
Albany County Legislative Majority Leader and Co-Chairman of the County Democratic Committee Frank Commisso
Susan Savage, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature
Brian Quail, Chairman of the Schenectady County Democratic Party
Schoharie Democratic County Chairman Cliff Hay
Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton
Schenectady County Legislature Vice Chairwoman Judy Dagostino
Former Schenectady Mayor and Current County Legislator Karen Johnson
Schenectady County Legislature Majority Leader Gary Hughes
Schenectady County Legislator Tony Jasenski
Niskayuna Town Supervisor Joe Landry
Former Root Town Supervisor Brian Cechnicki
Schenectady City Councilman Mark Blanchfield
Niskayuna Democratic Chairwoman Ellen Malkis
City of Schenectady Democratic Chairman Dick Naylor
Glenville Town Chairman Joe McQueen
Rotterdam Democratic Town Chairman Tony Cevera
Former Assemblywoman and Secretary of State Gail Schaffer
Not too shabby for a campaign for Congress at all, and a reminder that this primary is going to be hard-fought. For what it's worth, compare that with the news today of Tracey Brooks' playing catch-up by finally reaching out to her hometown officials in Coeymans for their endorsements. Trace Brooks first saught out the endorsements of the Albany City Democrats who walked out of the endorsement process.
What interested me was the the support Tonko recieved from local politicians whose names were floated around, along with Tonko's, around the time Mike McNulty announced his retirement. Many of these big-time local Dems were quoted in Tonko's press release for his campaign's official kickoff on Tuesday:
Albany County Executive Michael Breslin said: "Paul Tonko has served in local and state government for more than three decades. This experience, combined with his vast knowledge of energy issues -- a critical concern in our society, make him the most qualified person to represent our interests in Washington. I am proud to stand here today with fellow supporters, including those in labor, to support Paul Tonko for Congress."
Mike Breslin was one of the early names circulated as a possible for this run.
Mike Breslin's brother serves in the Senate representing Albany County. The Albany Weblog reported in November of 2007 that the State Senator from Albany County would seek the job. What's interesting in hindsight is that many were speculating that if Breslin ran and won that Phil Steck would be a contendor to replace Breslin in the Senate. UPDATE 1:15PM: Corrected, thanks to jmcbride in comments.
Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari, said: "Paul Tonko is the consummate public servant. The knowledge and experience he brings will elevate the discussions. I'm glad that he has entered the race."
There's a special place in my heart for Assemblyman Canestrari as a former Assembly Intern; he chairs the committee and built a great program for college students. As far as the NY-21 race is concerned, Cansteraris was the focus of an early Draft Ron movement on the Internet. While unsucessful, it speaks for Mr. Canetrari's leadership qualities and gives extra weight to his words.
Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton said: "Paul Tonko is just the kind of Tier-One candidate we need in the important race for the 21st Congressional District. Paul has always been a hard-working fighter for the people of Capital Region, and he worked to bring so much to Schenectady's financial recovery and resurgence. Now, more than ever, we need Paul's proven leadership and energy in Washington to bring Schenectady and the Capital Region its fair share. I am proud to give my endorsement and full support to Paul Tonko as our next Congressman."
Mayor Stratton recieved nearly as many rumors about a possible candidacy in the press as Mr. Tonko did. The Schenectady Mayor's claim to fame is his status as the son of former Representative Sam Stratton, who held the seat for thirty years before McNulty's two decades in office. Stratton handled the rumor mill rather well in my view, putting them to rest before letting them get out of control. But as the son of the former Congressman, his backing of a potential successor has a potentially stronger meaning than most.
Schenectady County Legislature's Chairwoman Susan Savage and Albany Common Council President Shawn Morris also backed Tonko at his announcement, and both were briefly mentioned as possible candidates for the office he seeks. For junkies like me, it's cool to see things come full circle and see all the candidates who were once rumored to be eyeing the seat come together around the one in their inner circle who decided to take the plunge...and the risk.
With that, the race is on. Nominating petitions can begin cirulating on June 3rd and candidates have until mid-July to return 1,250 signatures to continue the fight on the ballot. There will be at least these two candidates fighting for the Democratic nomination for Congress, and while there are certain to be other names, it's these names that seem now to have the most catching up to do.
There are eight Democrats running for Congress in New York's 21st Congressional District: John Aretakis, Craig Burridge, Tracey Brooks, Lester Freeman, Darius Shahinfar, Phil Steck, and, of course, Paul Tonko.
Soundpolitic's Blogger's Note
Paul Tonko's new website debuts today, complete with a domain name that Tracey Brooks forgot to cyber-squat.
This primaries packed house and timing has reminded me of the Presidential Primary since it began. I recall Hillary Clinton touting "35 years of experience" and campaigned with an air of inevitability. In hindsight, we have to admit that a strong grassroots campaign can send a younger, more progressive candidate past that threshold. Perhaps this year has a "less experience is the right experience" or a referndum on "judgment" and a call for "change" as the Obama campaign might reference.
This primary also starts off early, and now that the swirls of rumors around who is going to run Clinton experienced years of these, and people around town still say she only ran for Senate for the springboard. Now that we have eight announced candidates, the big question: who's the Kucinich in the race? I may just diary that to provide a little light-heartedness to what is shaping up to be a very contested race to watch.
In all serious, what remains to be seen is whether the race stays wide open or becomes a political duel. Judging from the speed of developments after Tonko's announcement, the possibility of the latter has opened up. Yet this could still turn out to be a very diverse ballot in September, still a full season away.
The only thing certain is that there has emerged a wealth of fine options and that Mike McNulty's successor will be the result of a process to seek the people's approval. When a strong progressive candidate emerges from this thing, we all win in November.
Cross Posted on The Albany Project