Batavia resident and Iraq War veteran David Bellavia says he wants to run for congress but "liberal New York politicians" are holding up the process of drawing new district lines, making it hard for him to start his campaign.
Bellavia made a plea for financial support from supporters to help get a possible campaign going in an open letter posted today to his website.
... here's why I can't jump in this race just yet: liberal New York politicians are creating new Congressional Districts. They've been holding back for months, dragging their feet and drawing secret lines to help Democrat incumbents like Rep. Hochul.
It's hard to believe - we simply don't know what district we live in yet!
But the courts have forced the politicians to announce those new districts in the next few weeks, and I need your donation if I am to get in this race as a strong competitor.
Bellavia blames Hochul for high gas prices and criticizes her for a "rubber stamp" of President Obama's policies.
The United States House of Representatives is working hard to fight President Obama's flawed policies. But in the conservative Republican district of Western New York where I live, we are represented by a liberal Democrat who believes in just about everything President Obama says or does!
I will start this comment by
I will start this comment by first stating that I do have a great deal of respect for David Bellavia.
I do question his intentions to represent our area when I have yet to see him involved and locally engaged in our communities.
And gas prices blamed on Hochul. Let's get real here and look at the facts. Gas prices are rising because of two concerns -- troubles in the Strait of Hormuz and US refineries off line causing production shortages. http://articles.philly.com/2012-02-21/news/31083381_1_refineries-gasoli…
I hope he gives an
I hope he gives an explanation about dropping out of the race last time.
High gas prices are caused by
High gas prices are caused by an independent firm who allegedly uses checks and balances to forecast gas prices. Our political servants could help regulate prices but, that would hurt many of their campaigns. Corporate greed has more to do with the gas prices. I mean really do they really expect me to buy their tensions in Iran BS especially, when only a week and a half ago it was because; they shut down refineries for mandatory maintenance. We need to take out these oil companies CEOs and these adjustors and focus on cutting our dependency of foreign oil and allow patents that oil companies have bought to deny technological advances in power sources, to be used.
John - Just for
John - Just for clarification, he was unable to get on the ballot due to petition issues.
I think one thing to be
I think one thing to be considered is the last Batavian poll conducted. Kathy Hochul did pretty well on her job approval according to the polls and didn't garner many negative comments. I am all for a Republican challenge, but with the understanding that she may be very tough to beat. Someone would have to bring not only spotless credentials but a solid plan for something better. Kathy certainly hasn't hurt herself in the job she has done so far and coming out of the gate negative may prove to be a mistake.
I think that what sets Kathy
I think that what sets Kathy apart is that she actually listens to people, even when she doesn't agree with them and that she's actively engaged in the community, as seen in her constantly going to diners and community centers. It's a breath of fresh air after the arrogance of Chris Lee. She has a moderate record that comes from a common sense attitude, she fits our district well and that's why even Republicans seem to like her.
I think that this is a pretty
I think that this is a pretty good example.
http://hochul.house.gov/press-release/hochul-schumer-gillibrand-announc…
Bellavia blames Hochul for
Bellavia blames Hochul for high gas prices.
If this is a sample of his campaign, he is going to find stiff opposition.
If Mr. Bellavia wanted to
If Mr. Bellavia wanted to accurately present obstacles to fair redistricting, he would FIRST question the forgotten pledges to move toward non-partisan redistricting. He would SECOND question Republicans- specifically the Republican State Leadership Committee about REDistricting MAjority Project (REDMAP). THIRD he would ask himself, "Why wouldn't Democrats defend against the tens of millions of dollars the GOP has invested in influencing state political mapping?"
C.M. - Boss (and Assembly
C.M. - Boss (and Assembly Speaker) Shelly Silver, that's why. The problem of Legislative self-preservation in Albany cuts both ways. Sadly, one of the few Democratic voices who was truly speaking up for reform and against the Speaker including voting against him (he was the only one in that regard), Mark Schroeder, has left the Assembly and is now Buffalo City Comptroller.
I'm no fan of Sheldon Silver,
I'm no fan of Sheldon Silver, but he ain't the anti-Christ! Everything that goes awry in this state is blamed on one man- Speaker Silver. Are the other 211 Senate and Assembly-members so...? Never mind, that was shaping up to be a purely rhetorical question. The balance of our legislature is still responsible for both action and inaction. Note that I'm not pointing fingers at either side of the aisle.
C.M. - Over the last two
C.M. - Over the last two election cycles, the balance of the Senate has shifted back and forth, Sheldon Silver has been there longer than anyone else in power. I think that the blame has to go where it is due, and that goes right to the Speaker's office. Sheldon Silver, until Andrew Cuomo became Governor, has been the reason why progress on ethics reform, the upstate economy, meaningful education reform and improving the state budget process has been halted. Andrew Cuomo is the only Governor that is strong enough and popular enough to put Boss Shelly in line, and thank God for that. There are good voices in Albany in the State Legislature on both sides of the aisle, people like Tim Kennedy (D), George Maziarz (R), Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D) and our very own Steve Hawley (R) have been independent and prudent in their duties. That being said, you can't ignore what's been happening for over a decade in Albany during Boss Shelly's dictatorship in the Assembly.
I suppose there's plenty of
I suppose there's plenty of blame to go around for the delay in defining the district lines. But I am particularly incensed at the candidates who SIGNED A PLEDGE during the last election to support an independent commission to do this work, and then completely backed away from it.
I absolutely agree with CM
I absolutely agree with CM and James about the ones who signed pledges to support independent redistricting and now have reneged. We should be selecting our own representative, not have them select us.
Mr. Bellavia, you seem like a good guy, and someone I could support. But if you're going to engage in partisan rhetoric and labels, you won't get my vote. Not that I particularly matter.
Gas prices? What's next? The
Gas prices? What's next? The weather..
Yep, Charlie, big saucer size
Yep, Charlie, big saucer size flakes are falling as I write this. I should call Hochul and ask her to turn it off.
"I think one thing to be
"I think one thing to be considered is the last Batavian poll conducted." LOL
Good article on the Marcus
Good article on the Marcus Hook Sunoco refinery. I read some where that Sunco can buy the finished product; gasoline cheaper from some European refinery than what it costs to run the local refinery. It is going to be a stay at home Summer for me!!
Tyler, not sure what you are
Tyler, not sure what you are implying but over 1000 responses with no real outcry for change right in your own back yard is not an LOL. Any candidate who looks to unseat Hochul has to start out with at least strong momentum in their own county.