I was born and raised outside of Buffalo, NY, in the 26th Congressional District. Though I now live in Brooklyn, I followed the Democratic primary battle between Jon Powers, Alice Kryzan, and Jack Davis very closely. I supported Jon and was disappointed when he wasn't able to win the primary. I was glad, though, to see that closet-Republican and outright-wack-job Jack Davis lost also. The Democratic primary winner, Alice Kryzan, is a professional local Democrat with a record of capable performance in elected office. She might not be the best Dem we could get on national issues, but she's a heck of a lot better than Jack Davis, and she's a whole heck of a lot better than her opponent in the general election, Republican Chris Lee.
So how has Jon Powers let us down?
He hasn't endorsed Kryzan.
I got an email just now from his campaign. By all appearances it's the last email from his campaign, informing his supporters that he's withdrawing from the race (he was to have been on a ballot line with a third party). The full text of the email after the jump...
Friends,
I hope this email finds you well. We have talked a great deal over this last year about how incredibly important this election is to the future of our country. New leadership in Washington will be responsible for navigating us through these challenging economic times, implementing an energy policy that will break our nation’s addiction to foreign oil, and bring our troops home safely, securely, and soon.
As you know, my family and I have been highly invested in this year’s election and believe that each of us has a responsibility to serve this nation in a fashion that can help play a role in the change we need. Each of us is responsible for being part of the solution that will help get our nation back on our feet.
Erin and I know that we still have a role to play in this year’s election. We have decided to take a job opportunity in Washington, DC that will allow us to make an impact on a national level.
I will be working with the Eleison Group to develop Veteran Advisory Councils for Congressional campaigns across the country. This will allow me to help candidates not only understand the issues around the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but put together policies to ensure we are taking care of those who served us. The Veteran Advisory Council provides me an opportunity to engage veterans in Western New York and across the nation to make sure they are working with their local campaigns to provide the critical first hand knowledge that someone who has been in combat brings to the conversation.
We have decided to stop our campaign and I am no longer running for Congress.
We want to thank each of you for your hard work and dedication. Please continue to serve in your community and find a way to get involved in this year’s elections.
This campaign was never about an individual, it was about this community. If you believe that together we have the power to change Washington, then please continue to work toward the dramatic change our country needs.
Sincerely,
Jon
NOT A WORD about the Democratic candidate for NY-26, Alice Kryzan.
NOT A WORD encouraging his supporters to support her, or indeed, even to vote at all!
NOT A WORD about the importance of having a representative in Congress who represents our side on the issues he says are so important to him.
I know it must be very difficult to lose a hard-fought battle like the primary. I know it must be enormously disappointing and emotionally fraught. But Jon has had some time now to lick his wounds. He's had some time to get over his disappointment and, hopefully, to realize that the goals we share for our districts and for our country are bigger and more important than our own personal ambitions. Unfortunately, his email today showed no realization of that whatsoever.
NY-26 is a tough district for us; R+6 or so, I believe. It's gone Republican for as far back as I can remember. The last poll showed Kryzan down by about 10 points. She needs all the help she can get - but it seems she's not going to get it from Jon.
I know a lot of folks on this site, myself included, put a lot of faith in Jon Powers. Today, he let us down.