| Rochester: On a drizzly Saturday morning at Rochester's Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 13, nearly 100 volunteers and supporters for Jon Powers came out to rally for the endorsed Democrat and Iraq War veteran in his campaign to represent NY-26 in Congress. Among the supporters were several members of the Greece Democrats, including Chairwoman Jo Meleca-Voigt and candidate for the NY State Assembly 134th District, Dave Garretson. Also in attendance were Judge Paul Riordan, who is running for election to NYS Supreme Court Judge in the 7th Judicial District, Tom Hasman, who is running for Monroe County Clerk, Joanne Winslow, who is running for Supreme Court Judge, Monroe County Legislator Paul Haney, and fellow Iraq War veteran Chris Lovell.
(L to R: Patrick Powers, brother of Jon Powers, Chris Lovell, Iraq War Veteran, and Bill Powers, Jon Powers' father and also a veteran who served in the Army stationed in Germany as an LT. Image Courtesy Michael Parks, all rights reserved.)
Lovell was Powers' roommate while they were stationed in Germany and they served in Iraq at the same time, both Captains in the Army. I asked Lovell why he was here today and he said:
I'm here to support Jon. I'm here because I'm proud to see what he's doing. Coming from a similar background due to our experiences in Iraq, I understand his frustrations. We met in an officer training course and were roommates in Germany. We served five years in uniform together. Jon's a leader who will have an impact.
Lovell also wrote a piece for Powers on the candidate's website, which you can read here. Here are excerpts:
Within the unit, Jon was a highly respected leader. As a platoon leader, Jon's men always took top place in certifications and revered as unit capable of completing any mission...
...Captain Powers completed his military career working directly for the Colonel providing advice, counsel, and pulsing the moral of the troops for which he had a tremendous relationship.
Powers then began the rally after a rousing introduction, thanking his numerous and enthusiastic supporters, and then his Monroe County Field Director, Dan McNally, took the stage to wrap it up. Then the volunteers fanned out all over the area canvassing in the final four days of the Get Out The Vote effort. |
