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This belongs to you. Take it back...
Mike Ranzenhofer 
Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 21:36:57 PM EST
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These are the results coming for the 61st Senate District race between Democratic candidate Joe Mesi and Republican Mike Ranzenhofer.
With 58 percent reporting:
Ranzenhofer: 37,819 51%
Mesi: 35,902 49%
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Sun Nov 02, 2008 at 19:04:16 PM EST
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I just received word from someone canvassing for Joe Mesi that more than a few voters have received calls from someone claiming to be connected to the Gay City News saying that Mesi is endorsed by the publication and supports marriage equality. Of course, these calls aren't coming from the publication.
These calls are also being made in the 6th Senate District, where those calls have been informing voters that the Gay City News supports Kristen McElroy. According to my source, the same can be said of the Mesi calls.
Why is this a problem? The 61st is a fairly moderate-to-conservative district. The race in the 61st hasn't been about social issues like marriage equality. The economy, jobs and property taxes have been the biggest issues. So this is a shameless attempt by the Republicans to get these issues back into the main focus of voters.
I imagine Gay City News isn't happy about this. This is a dirty GOP trick, to say the least.
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Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 11:52:24 AM EDT
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Citizen Action of New York released a report card of the Erie County Legislature earlier this week. In that report card, Republican Mike Ranzehofer received a "D." Ranzenhofer, of course, is the Republican candidate for New York State Senate in the 61st Senate District. He has been running on his long record as an elected official and has used that experience to try and belittle his opponent, Joe Mesi.
But I have a question for Mr. Ranzenhofer: Can you call it experience if you don't show up?
According to CANY, Ranzenhofer had the worst attendance record of all the legislators from 2004 through 2007. During that time period, he missed 14 committee meetings. That was more than Legislator Barbara Miller Williams. Why did Ms. Miller Williams miss nine committee meetings? Because she is serving our country as a reservist.
That's right: Ranzenhofer missed more meetings than Ms. Miller Williams did. What is Ranzenhofer's excuse? If elected to Albany, will he decide to charge the taxpayers for his travel to Albany and then decide he doesn't feel like showing up for votes or meetings?
CANY based their report card on the Legislature's committee schedule. So far this year, Ranzenhofer has missed three committee meetings. In fairness, that's not the most meetings missed this year. But when combined with his 2004-2007 figures, that is the second-highest figure of missed committee meetings on the Legislature. The person with the most? Ms. Miller Williams.
And before charges of partisan attacks start flying around, it is worth nothing that the son of the woman Ranzenhofer seeks to replace received an "A+" grade from CANY for his perfect attendance from 2004-2007. That legislator is Ed Rath, who is the son of Mary Lou Rath.
The Mesi campaign took advantage of this yesterday and issued a press release that highlighted a Ranzenhofer quote about being committed to the people. You can read that below the fold.
Again, if Ranzenhofer can't make committee meetings at the county level, how can he be trusted to fulfill his duties in Albany?
ON THE WEB:
Joe Mesi's ActBlue Page
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Mon Oct 27, 2008 at 12:58:56 PM EDT
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It seems pretty much all upstate Republicans are sticking to the tired old "ooga booga...NYC" messaging that has so successful as of late. (Hello, Senator Aubertine!) Just like clueless wingnut Dennis Delano, SD-61 GOP hopeful Mike Ranzenhofer is raking in big bucks from downstate fat cats all the while telling anyone who will listen that Joe Mesi is too beholden to downstate interests. Sound familiar?
Developers in NYC know that if Republicans lose power their gravy train in Albany will go out the window too. For decades Republicans have taken money from developers and then thanked them by loosening laws to protect tenants and giving developers tax breaks, sweetheart land deals, and other favors.
Glenwood Management, which has given Ranzenhofer over $19,000, was featured in a NYT’s article from last year as one of the main development companies involved in lobbying efforts to keep a loophole open that effectively lets them donate as much as they want to political interests.
It’s ironic that Mike Ranzenhofer and his cronies try to paint Mesi as a tool of downstate interests when in fact Ranzenhofer and his Republican buddies have been used as a pawn for downstate developers for decades.
Ranzenhofer even goes so far as to run this ad to drive his BS point home:
There is a negative Ranzenhofer ad out there hitting Mesi for taking downstate money. (Interesting that it's bad for Mesi, but OK for Ranzenhofer and Delano. But I digress).
This is how Ranzenhofer's ad illustrates the point about downstate money. In it, a stencil is applied over a white brick wall that has "NYC" drawn in stylized graffitti print. A spray can miraculously appears, causing the message carved into the stencil to appear on the brick wall. I don't even remember what the point being made is.
What's Ranzenhofer trying to say here? That downstate = urban blight, graffitti, and defacement of property? Gee, what a fascinating image to convey. I'd love to hear more about why that particular device was employed to make this point.
Pathetic.
On the web:
Joe Mesi for State Senate
Wall St, Ranzenhofer and the NYC Money Trail (Awesome new watch blog)
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Sun Oct 26, 2008 at 22:00:37 PM EDT
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To summarize this race, Joe Mesi is running on issues that are important to working families. He is focusing on economic concerns and job creation during this campaign and improving our health care system.
Mesi's Republican opponent Mike Ranzenhofer is running the usual Republican campaign we see here in upstate New York. Tie the Democrat to New York City/Downstate special interests and then go on the attack. Ranzenhofer has also introduced his own element to this campaign and that has been a condescending tone towards Mesi. Ranzenhofer is a career politician who is acting like, well, a career politician.
Through all this, Mesi has stuck to his guns. Yesterday, he released his Plan for Change highlighting his plans for job creation, middle class tax relief, investing in higher education, implementing a new energy economy and reforming Albany. It is a 20 page booklet that you can read online or you may pick up a copy of the booklet at the Joe Mesi campaign headquarters at 2001 Niagara Falls Blvd in Amherst and at the Genesee County headquarters in the
Mesi said this about the release of his plan:
"I want you to read my plan and talk about the issues. You might not agree with every detail, but you deserve to know where I stand. We need new leadership in Albany that believes in us and much as we believe in ourselves. New leadership that won't give up. That won't say cut - with a sledgehammer - but instead say use a scalpel, and, at the same time, invest in our strengths and believe in our future."
In other news, it seems like Ranzenhofer flip-flopped on a major position of his. Ranzenhofer has called for a 15 percent across-the-board spending cut. I would presume this would apply to things like health care and infrastructure, unless Ranzenhofer has some brilliant across-the-board spending cut I've never heard of where you exempt those two items.
Ranzenhofer has sent out a mailer that says Mesi doesn't have a plan and no experience creating jobs. Then when talking about what Mesi's economic plan (I thought he didn't have a plan, Ranzenhofer campaign?) the mailer mentions places where Mesi will allegedly be cutting funds (both are untrue).
Of course, this is an odd issue to attack Mesi on considering Ranzenhofer is the one pushing for a 15 percent across-the-board spending cut that he says will save us billions of dollars. That is his economic plan and a plan that will only lead to more failure in this state.
Joe Mesi has a real plan of action. He has the Plan for Change.
ON THE WEB:
Joe Mesi's ActBlue Page
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Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 00:47:52 AM EDT
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The battle in the 61st Senate District between Joe Mesi and Mike Ranzenhofer is heating up. There is a lot of money coming in for this race and a lot of money being spent. With the 11 day pre-general filing deadline upon us, here are the totals to date from each campaign.
Joe Mesi's filings
Mike Ranzenhofer's filings
| 61st Senate District Total Financial Figures (Six Filings) |
| Joe Mesi (D) |
Mike Ranzenhofer (R) |
| Category |
Amount |
Percentage |
Category |
Amount |
Percentage |
| Individuals |
$187,246 |
22% |
Individuals |
$157,199 |
15% |
| Corporate |
$30,505 |
4% |
Corporate |
$106,055 |
10% |
| Other |
$200,222 |
24% |
Other |
$99,275 |
10% |
| In-Kind |
$22,311.46 |
3% |
In-Kind |
$9,995.52 |
1% |
| Transfers In |
$334,740 |
40% |
Transfers In |
$676,542.63 |
64% |
| Loans |
$55,000 |
7% |
Loans |
$0 |
0% |
| Expenditure Refunds |
$123.41 |
0% |
Expenditure Refunds |
$0 |
0% |
| TOTALS |
$830,147.87 |
100% |
TOTALS |
$1,049,067.15 |
100% |
| EXPENDITURES |
$633,724.78 |
EXPENDITURES |
$720,124.98 |
| CASH ON HAND |
$196,423.09 |
CASH ON HAND |
$328,942.17 |
A few things here: Ranzenhofer has received plenty of help from the SRCC. His fundraising is balanced among individuals, corporations and "other" sources. But the help he has received from the party is enormous.
The most money Mesi has received has also come from the party, but he has also shown an ability to raise money. That will be good down the stretch when spending money will be a priority. It's nice to know that if you need money, you can go out and get it.
This is a tight race. More money will be poured into this one from both sides. The Republicans are clearly invested in this race. They want to keep it almost to the point of being desperate to keep it. In reality, this seat could decide which way the New York State Senate swings. It's going to be fun to watch over these next ten days.
ON THE WEB:
Joe Mesi's ActBlue Page
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Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 14:18:21 PM EDT
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(Good stuff. - promoted by phillip anderson)
"The Republican Party has been taken over by a bunch of kooks"-Barry Goldwater
Since I was a small child I remember watching with a certain awe the political audacity and committment to which Western New Yorkers, especially in my home county of Genesee, committed themselves to not only political candidates but their ideas as well. Everywhere I went growing up, whether it was in Dunkin Donuts or the grocery store everyone had an opinion around election time. No matter who you were for, you were for someone and you had an opinion on everyone.
Why then, is this predominantly Republican county now registering more Democrats than Republicans? Why are even Republicans coming in our small, rural county committee's office asking for Obama/Biden, Mesi and Kryzan signs?
Perhaps their just not falling for the same old tired talking points anymore, maybe they realize what an aged Barry Goldwater said during the rise of the Religious Right (see above quote)...... (more on the flip)
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Sun Oct 19, 2008 at 17:30:50 PM EDT
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Joe Mesi and Mike Ranzenhofer faced off on WBEN's "Hardline with Hardwick" this morning in a debate that featured a strong change message from Mesi and more of the same Republican talking points from Ranzenhofer.
 Mesi had a strong debate and even faced a tough question about his connections to Tom Golisano and Steve Pigeon, which he weathered. Mesi labeled Ranzenhofer as a career politician and Ranzenhofer acted like it at times by trying to tell Mesi how he should act or how he should answer questions. Ranzenhofer patronized Mesi at multiple points throughout the debate and I don't think that did Ranzenhofer any favors.
There are plenty of differences between these two candidates. Ranzenhofer proposed 15 percent across-the-board spending cuts as his way of addressing out-of-control spending at the state level. Ranzenhofer argued that we need these cuts. The only programs he would exempt are monies for local governments and school districts. (Note: Hardwick pointed out that aid for schools and local governments make up a huge chunk of the budget. That didn't change Ranzenhofer's mind.) Mesi proposed a seven percent cut in capital spending and said he would target Medicaid fraud while protecting investments that we need to grow. Mesi also called for closing corporate loopholes and reforming Empire Zones and IDAs, which is something that wasn't addressed by Ranzenhofer.
Both candidates also differ on taxes. Ranzenhofer is pushing for a tax cap while Mesi is a supporter of the circuit breaker. Mesi said that a tax cap would be a good start, but in order to achieve the tax relief he wants, we need to implement a circuit breaker. Ranzenhofer dismissed the circuit breaker as a creation of the Assembly downstate Democrats that he would be a "killer" for upstate.
More analysis of the debate below the fold.
ON THE WEB:
Joe Mesi's ActBlue Page
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Tue Oct 14, 2008 at 17:20:37 PM EDT
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Joe Mesi is arguably the front-runner in the 61st Senate District. He also is calling out Republican career politician Mike Ranzenhofer for his claims about taking on big spending and asking Ranzenhofer where he stands on the Delaware North deal.
"Will Mike Ranzenhofer stand up for Western New York? Or stand with his downstate partner Dean Skelos? Western New York wants to know," said Mesi.
Mesi's campaign tied Ranzenhofer to Skelos again when they said that Ranzenhofer was for big spending before he was against it.
State Senate Joe Mesi's campaign said today that his Republican opponent Mike Ranzenhofer's call for a "constitutional cap on spending" was not believable - and that Ranzenhofer's love-fest with Long Island State Senator Dean Skelos proves it.
"When a career politician like Mike Ranzenhofer says he's going to cut spending, it's time to watch your wallet. Ranzenhofer was for big spending before he was against it. Mike Ranzenhofer was a County Legislator during the worst fiscal crisis in the history of Erie County. During that time, he voted for nearly $3 million in pork-barrel spending. Watch what politicians like Ranzenhofer do, not what they say," said Emma Wolfe, Mesi's campaign manager.
"And here's more reason to worry: Mike Ranzenhofer has formed a close bond with his downstate patron Dean Skelos. The problem is that Skelos's Republican majority has signed off on budget after budget with reckless spending increases. Skelos and Ranzenhofer together equals more of the same."
"Among the State Senate candidates, only Joe Mesi has put forward a realistic plan to cut wasteful state spending and lower property taxes for working families," Wolfe said.
Ranzenhofer might be the seasoned politician here, but Mesi has him against the ropes (no pun intended). Mesi has become very strong throughout this campaign when it comes to issues and the discussion of those issues. The election is right around the corner and the 61st Senate District could be turning blue right before our eyes.
ON THE WEB:
Joe Mesi's ActBlue Page
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Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:23:53 AM EDT
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Yesterday, Joe Mesi's Republican opponent Mike Ranzenhofer had this to say about Mesi's appearance with other Democratic Senate candidates in New York City:
"New York is clearly facing major fiscal and economic challenges right now, and we will need strong, fiscally responsible leadership to overcome these challenges.
"When upstate and downstate Democrat politicians come together, taxpayers better guard their wallets.
"Their agenda would be a disaster for Western New York, and our state as a whole."
One rule here: If you are going to play the whole upstate-downstate divide game, you might not want to be such a downstate player yourself.
Case in point: Mike Ranzenhofer's money from downstate donors. If we want to talk about upstate and downstate, then all the facts should be laid on the table.
First, we must define "downstate New York." In reviewing a Wikipedia entry on downstate New York, we'll say that the downstate New York area is around New York City and Long Island.
In reviewing Mesi's three filings, the total amount given from downstate donors to Mesi is $11,100. That is the total from all three filings.
Ranzenhofer's three filings shows us that Ranzenhofer has benefited greatly from downstate donors. In all, Ranzenhofer has received $38,150 from downstate donors. This includes $9,000 from Dean Skelos' committee and $14,500 total from two PACs - both located in the New York City area.
Also, Ranzenhofer has received $176,000 from the SRCC. As of these three filings, Mesi has yet to receive party money.
A tip for Republicans: If you are going to play the downstate divide card (like they always do) you might want to check your own bankroll and see who is funding your campaign. Chances are the results will surprise you. In this case, Ranzenhofer has received over three times as much money from downstate than Mesi. So Ranzenhofer invoking the upstate-downstate Republican myth actually backfires here. Or at least, it should.
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Fri Sep 12, 2008 at 16:55:59 PM EDT
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In a bold move, Joe Mesi has challenged his Republican opponent Mike Ranzenhofer to three debates to talk about the issues important to voters in the 61st Senate District.
"We owe the voters of the 61st an opportunity to hear more than sound bites from radio and television ads for such an important election." said Joe Mesi. "I believe Albany is broken and I want to have a debate on how we're going to fix it, and how we can make our economy work for us."
Mesi proposes the following town hall debates, which will focus on challenges facing working families of the 61st Senate District:
Friday, October 10th 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Wednesday, October 15th 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Wednesday, October 22nd 6:00 pm -7:30 pm
"I believe that voters want new energy, new leadership, and a real plan that focuses on the issues our working families are facing today," Mesi added. "For voters, the choice is clear: we can continue to elect career politicians who produce more of the same business-as-usual politics, or we can choose the change that we need, here at home and in Albany."
I say this is bold because I have mixed feelings about how savvy Mesi is. Regardless, he is very good in front of a crowd and has the likability factor. He also cares about people and is very genuine. So he might do very well in this setting.
ON THE WEB:
Contribute to Joe Mesi for New York State Senate
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Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 00:02:07 AM EDT
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Erie County legislator Mike Ranzenhofer announced today that he will run for New York State Senate in the 61st Senate District.
Ranzenhofer, a veteran member of the County Legislature, said he will bring a "citizen legislator" perspective to the Senate, while emphasizing his stands against big government and high taxes.
"During my tenure in the Legislature I did not vote for property tax increases," he said. "In fact, I have never voted for any tax increase. I look for ways to cut spending."
The candidate was joined by retiring Sen. Mary Lou Rath, R-Williamsville, and County Executive Chris Collins, who enthusiastically backed the man he said he has relied upon to advance his own reform agenda.
"I ran on a platform of reforming county government, improving the economy, and reducing taxes," Collins said. "I need help in Albany to achieve those goals."
As I mentioned yesterday, Ranzenhofer was challenged by Buffalo Pundit in the 2007 elections. In BP's defense, Ranzenhofer has been on the Legislature in Erie County for nearly two decades, making him a well entrenched incumbent.
On the Democratic side, Michele Iannello was endorsed by the Genesee County Democrats. Iannello, like Ranzenhofer, is an Erie County legislator.
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Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 14:04:46 PM EDT
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(Couldn't resist breaking this. After this post, back to work.)
Erie County legislator Mike Ranzenhofer will declare his candidacy tomorrow at the University at Buffalo and in the City of Batavia for the 61st Senate District.
The Republican Ranzenhofer will replace Sen. Mary Lou Rath who declared earlier this year that she is retiring from the Senate.
So far, the Democratic side has four candidates in the running. Erie County legislator Michele Iannello, Town of Amherst councilmen Dan Ward and Mark Manna and professional boxer Joe Mesi.
You might remember that Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno stopped in at a Ranzenhofer fundraiser when he was in the Buffalo area awhile back. That was seen as Ranzenhofer being named THE guy in the SD-61 race.
Tomorrow's announcements will make it official.
Just a side note: Ranzenhofer beat the blogosphere's own Buffalo Pundit (aka Alan Bedenko) in the 2007 elections.
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