| (UPDATE: This is what I have been able to find out about Owens so far. On the issue of abortion, he is pro-choice. On marriage equality, he believes that is a civil rights issue but isn't a proponent of marriage equality, at least not as of yet. He is a resident of Plattsburgh and moved there when he retired from the Air Force.)
The nomination of Rep. John McHugh to serve as Secretary of the Army - a move that is being blocked by a couple of Republican senators along with other appointments - has opened the 23rd congressional district up and the race is underway. And with the Republicans and Conservatives putting up separate candidates, this is a race that we can win.
After gathering today in the North Country, the 11 county chairs have selected Bill Owens to run on the Democratic line. This has been confirmed by Oswego Democrat, who was on the scene and waited for the decision to come down.
Owens entered the fray a few weeks ago and made it known he was interested. He acknowledges that he is an independent, but he has distanced himself from Republican thinking.
Owens was a favorite of the DCCC's and it's easy to see why. Owens is an independent voice and will be able to appeal to voters on all sides in the district. That can't be said of the Republican candidate (Dede Scozzafava) or the Conservative candidate (Doug Hoffman).
Here's some more from the Press-Republican on Owens:
The longtime attorney has been with the law firm of Stafford, Owens, Curtin & Trombley PLLC, the firm of former State Sen. Ronald B. Stafford, an icon in the Republican Party.
"I've been an independent since I was 18," Owens said.
"People who think I was a Republican all these years don't know me well enough."
Owens has also served as a host on Mountain Lake Public Television news shows.
He said he wants to join Congress so he can fight for the people of the North Country.
"I think it is time that we get people in Congress who are going to look out for the people in their districts," he said.
"The deficit, jobs, health care, these are the issues that are on people's minds."
While I agree with Scozzafava on issues like marriage equality and abortion, I can't see myself agreeing with her on much else. She is, after all, a Republican. She will need to appeal to the base and if the NRCC sees this race as another attempt at trying to crack President Barack Obama's armor.
But without the Conservative Party line, it will be tough. That will take votes away, especially if Doug Hoffman makes an issue of Scozzafava's stances on marriage equality and abortion.
That is where Owens comes in. He is a voice for independence and he will provide voters with a clear choice. Yes, he's running on the Democratic line. But he provides voters with an option: Either you can support the politics of the past or you can vote in favor of change and balance. |
