Reed gains Paxon support for Massa seat

   What could prove one of the hottest congressional races in the nation may be developing in the Southern Tier and Rochester suburbs.

   A gaggle of Republicans and Democrats are suddenly lining up to succeed Rep. Eric J.J. Massa,  D-Corning, who shocked the political world this week by announcing he will not run for a second term, and is now expected to resign on Monday.

Massa said he will pass on running again this year because the cancer that he fought off several years ago has returned. But other reports also indicate he is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegedly making unwanted sexual advances on a male staffer.

   A spokesman for the state Board of Elections said Friday it will be up to the governor to schedule a special election, though he is not obligated to do so. Spokesman Todd Valentine said governors typically order a special election at this stage of the calendar year, though the winner would have to compete again in November.

   But before the rush toward Massa's seat, there was former Corning Mayor Tom Reed. He has been raising money (though only about $122,000) and lining up support for months. But now heavy hitters like Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb of Canandaigua and State Sen. Catherine Young of Olean are also mulling a run.

   Reed, however, should not be overlooked. He has the backing of influential Monroe County Conservative Chairman Tom Cook, which could prove key in presenting a united Republican-Conservative front against the eventual Democratic nominee.

   Now Reed has the backing of former Rep. Bill Paxon, R-Amherst, who made a rare endorsement on Friday.

   "Things can sometimes change quickly in politics," Paxon said, "but one thing that hasn’t and will not change is Tom Reed’s commitment to fight against bigger government and reckless spending in Washington."

What may prove even more important for Reed is the continuing support of former Rep. Amo Houghton, R-Corning, who retired in 2006 but remains enormously popular in the district.

-- Robert J. McCarthy   

Comments

[BobbyCat]

And where has Mr.Paxon lived for the past 20-odd years?

And where was Mr. Paxon's warning about 'reckless spending' when the republicans were spending like drunken sailors? Nary a peep was heard about that.

He was too busy lobbying for special interests in DC.

[pgr88]

BobbyCat: at least drunken sailors spend their own money, and stop when they run out.

The Kenyan is over-spending this year by $1.6 Trillion, with $1+ Trillion deficits each year for the next 10. Now he has the head of the SEIU on his "deficit reduction team" to make sure his union pals are skimming as much as possible!

[PresidentSuit]

It's a Triple Play of Shame: Paterson, Rangel, Massa! Now THIS is an unemployment statistic we can believe in! http://patrioticmobster.wordpress.com/2010/03/06/new-york-trifecta-now-this-is-an-unmployment-statistic-we-can-believe-in/

[OMG GOP WTF?!]

Lemme see now, PresidentSuit, Gov. Mark Sanford, (R) Sen. David Vitter,(R) Sen. John Ensign,(R) Sen. Larry Craig, (R) - that's the GOP Quadruple Play of Shame - not exactly something to bragg about, there, PresidentSuit....

And they all live or lived as THE FAMILY together under ONE ROOF at the "C Street" townhouse, err, 'Church' with it's own tax exempt status... and it's very own counseling staff - counseling the transgressors on how to pay off mistresses with daddy's gambling fortune (Ensign) and try and get away with being cheats and hypocrites...

What is it they say about people who live in glass houses?