NY-26: Last Night’s Powers vs. Kryzan Debate
From a reader who was there. Only Jon Powers and Alice Kryzan showed up– Jack Davis didn’t bother.
The IP [Indepenence Party] guy, Fumarelle (sp?), was also a no-show, which I think only confirms he’s not a real candidate.
My overall impression was that Jon Powers did well. Alice Kryzan, I would say, did well only for the first half. She was making solid points, but then went too far with her negativity. This culminated when she accused Jon of taking money from a defense contractor PAC (she kept saying over and over that Jon would be beholden to special interests). When Jon asked who, because he wasn’t aware of any, AK said she would have to get him the name after the debate. It was lame, and people booed her, as she was making a very specific charge and evidently had nothing to back it up. Jon’s response to her constant negativity about his fundraising success was to repeat that over 4,000 donors had given to his campaign and that an astonishing portion of those were small donors (I believe something like 86% under $100, but don’t quote me on that; I’d have to double-check.) And I think AK undercut herself by saying she only accepted 1 PAC contribution, the $1K she got from the NYConservation League. Well, if she accepts any, wouldn’t she have been happy to get the backing Jon has gotten from other groups? Didn’t she compete for the backing and endorsement of the unions and leadership groups which have contributed to Jon’s campaign? Of course, she did, but they chose to back Jon. It all struck me as pretty hypocritical, and I liked hearing Jon say he was happy to have the support of people like the United Steelworkers or various party organizations. He had gone out and earned that support by really working hard throughout the district.
I will note that I keep my ear VERY close to the ground in Livingston County, and this is the first time since January that I am aware that AK has come to this county, one of 7 in the district. I am not aware of her ever having been here outside of those two time. And I know for a fact that AK collected no petition signatures in Livingston (neither did Davis). Jon Powers is the only candidate who has bothered to come and meet us and ask for our support. He will get it.
Thanks for the report! We’ll see if we can get some pics as well.
Related posts:
Jack Davis was too busy posting on the neo nazi stormfront forum to go to the debate
Good catch on the point about petitions. Powers is the only congressional candidate, Democrat or Republican or otherwise, to collect petition signatures in all seven counties.