Jockeying begins with NY Rep. McHugh's nomination
AP
VALERIE BAUMAN, Associated Press Writer
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — For the second time this year, New York faces the prospect of a special election to fill a congressional seat after North Country Republican Rep. John McHugh was nominated to be President Barack Obama's secretary of the Army.
With a confirmation vote on McHugh not yet scheduled, elected officials began Tuesday to angle for his job representing the 23rd Congressional District, a vast, rural district that is heavily Republican and includes the state's only active Army post. The district also includes the Adirondack Mountains and Thousand Islands regions of New York.
Republican Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava of Jefferson County, who represents four counties in the 23rd Congressional District, is interested. Republican Assemblyman William Barclay, who represents Oswego and Onondaga Counties, said he is considering a run. Barclay lost to Democrat Darrel Aubertine in a 2008 special election for the state senate.
Some Republicans favor Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne; he said he is interested, but hasn't decided whether to run.
Republican State Sen. Joseph Griffo, the former Oneida County executive, said he has been approached about the seat and is considering it.
McHugh's replacement will likely be decided by a special election that New York Gov. David Paterson would schedule. The governor said he won't announce an election until McHugh is confirmed.
June O'Neill, chairwoman of the state Democratic Committee, wouldn't identify any potential candidates.
Republicans have an enrollment advantage of 46,000 registered voters.
But Democrats are gaining in enrollment statewide and, perhaps boosted by Obama's popularity, held the 20th Congressional District in a special election earlier this year despite an even greater GOP enrollment edge — 70,000 — there. That race, won by Scott Murphy over James Tedisco, was to replace Kirsten Gillibrand, who was named to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Senate when Clinton became secretary of state.
National Republicans say McHugh's nomination is an attempt by Democrats to wrest away another traditionally Republican seat.
"The party boss (Rahm Emanuel) in the West Wing saw a political opportunity, and he seized on it," said a memo from the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Even if Republicans hold the seat, they could have a tougher time holding it after 2010. That's when the Legislature — now controlled by Democrats — will redraw election districts in a process every 10 years that is criticized as incumbents protecting their turf power.
"While it's a strong Republican district, we do know what's going on nationally, I wouldn't say we should be overconfident," said Sam Villanti, chairman of the Lewis County Republican Committee.
Important issues in the district include the Fort Drum military base, protecting the northern border, agriculture and job growth. The candidates who end up competing for the seat will likely live in — or represent — the district and shouldn't need to change positions to appeal to voters on these key issues.
The district spans more than 14,000 square miles — bigger than Maryland — including all or parts of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Oswego, Madison and St. Lawrence Counties.
Fort Drum is in Jefferson County and is home to the 10th Mountain Division, infantry troops who have been the Army's most deployed over the past two decades.
McHugh has represented upstate New York in Congress since 1993, and is the top Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee.
VALERIE BAUMAN, Associated Press Writer
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — For the second time this year, New York faces the prospect of a special election to fill a congressional seat after North Country Republican Rep. John McHugh was nominated to be President Barack Obama's secretary of the Army.
With a confirmation vote on McHugh not yet scheduled, elected officials began Tuesday to angle for his job representing the 23rd Congressional District, a vast, rural district that is heavily Republican and includes the state's only active Army post. The district also includes the Adirondack Mountains and Thousand Islands regions of New York.
Republican Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava of Jefferson County, who represents four counties in the 23rd Congressional District, is interested. Republican Assemblyman William Barclay, who represents Oswego and Onondaga Counties, said he is considering a run. Barclay lost to Democrat Darrel Aubertine in a 2008 special election for the state senate.
Some Republicans favor Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne; he said he is interested, but hasn't decided whether to run.
Republican State Sen. Joseph Griffo, the former Oneida County executive, said he has been approached about the seat and is considering it.
McHugh's replacement will likely be decided by a special election that New York Gov. David Paterson would schedule. The governor said he won't announce an election until McHugh is confirmed.
June O'Neill, chairwoman of the state Democratic Committee, wouldn't identify any potential candidates.
Republicans have an enrollment advantage of 46,000 registered voters.
But Democrats are gaining in enrollment statewide and, perhaps boosted by Obama's popularity, held the 20th Congressional District in a special election earlier this year despite an even greater GOP enrollment edge — 70,000 — there. That race, won by Scott Murphy over James Tedisco, was to replace Kirsten Gillibrand, who was named to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Senate when Clinton became secretary of state.
National Republicans say McHugh's nomination is an attempt by Democrats to wrest away another traditionally Republican seat.
"The party boss (Rahm Emanuel) in the West Wing saw a political opportunity, and he seized on it," said a memo from the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Even if Republicans hold the seat, they could have a tougher time holding it after 2010. That's when the Legislature — now controlled by Democrats — will redraw election districts in a process every 10 years that is criticized as incumbents protecting their turf power.
"While it's a strong Republican district, we do know what's going on nationally, I wouldn't say we should be overconfident," said Sam Villanti, chairman of the Lewis County Republican Committee.
Important issues in the district include the Fort Drum military base, protecting the northern border, agriculture and job growth. The candidates who end up competing for the seat will likely live in — or represent — the district and shouldn't need to change positions to appeal to voters on these key issues.
The district spans more than 14,000 square miles — bigger than Maryland — including all or parts of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Oswego, Madison and St. Lawrence Counties.
Fort Drum is in Jefferson County and is home to the 10th Mountain Division, infantry troops who have been the Army's most deployed over the past two decades.
McHugh has represented upstate New York in Congress since 1993, and is the top Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee.
