Candidates differ on their goals for seat
Auburn Citizen
Nate Robson
October 26th, 2008
Change has been the magic word during this year's presidential campaign, but three local U.S. Congressional candidates also have promised to bring new ideas to the House of Representatives if they are elected.
The candidates, Dan Maffei (D), Dale Sweetland (R and Conservative) and Howie Hawkins (Green Populist), all say they are the candidate who could best serve the 25th U.S. Congressional District, which includes Skaneateles and the northern part of Cayuga County. The winner will replace the retiring Jim Walsh (R), who has served in the House for 20 years.
As a third-party candidate, Hawkins said he was realistic about winning, but believes if enough residents vote for him, that could make the winner change his policies to better represent the people who did not vote for him.
"If I get 7 percent of the vote, I think that will send a very clear message to people representing this district," Hawkins said. "People shouldn't vote for the other candidate because they are from a mainstream party, they should vote for who they believe in. If they believe in me and enough people believe in me, we can make an impact on government policy and how it is executed by forcing them to listen."
But Sweetland, a former dairy farmer, said he already is in tune with the people, and believes they wanted a better economy. By bringing in entrepreneurs who will hire local people, Sweetland said he could help bring more money into central New York.
"I work hard to be a good listener and the people who I have met have all told me they are just terrible right now," Sweetland said. "That reinforces why I am here. Because I am not being supported by the main Republican party, my duty lies with the people I represent. I will not have to answer to anyone else in Washington, only the people in my district."
With upstate New York suffering from "brain drain," Maffei said he decided to run so he could create a better state where the nation's younger adults can work.
"I believe being a (U.S.) Representative is not a job title, it's a job description," Maffei said. "I really felt we needed change as a country and as a government, and I will be a catalyst for that change. Young people were moving out of state because they did not feel the region was economically supportive. They didn't see the opportunities that I see here, and I thought I could make those opportunities a reality."
Even though he has never held elected office, Maffei said his experience working for other elected representatives as well as his experience working for a TV news station in Syracuse taught him how to change the system from the inside.
After reporting on the economy, mudslides, flooding, crime and education, Maffei said he knows what issues are important to the district's residents.
Maffei also points to his close loss to Walsh in 2006, to show how he's gained strong support.
"I would approach the issues on their own merits and not just go with the flow," Maffei said. "I think differently and will try different tactics to get things accomplished instead of using the same insufficient and antiquated system. We need to involve more people no matter where their party lines are to get things accomplished."
Hawkins, who has run and lost races for public office, said he would pride himself on sticking to the platform his voters supported, rather than getting approval from other congressmen.
"I am fearless about speaking out," Hawkins said. "If I am elected, I will speak out with a smile. It will be my vested responsibility to represent my constituents, even if it puts me in the minority."
Sweetland, who has 20 years of experience in town and county government, said his priority would be promoting bi-partisan cooperation to fix the current economic situation.
Sweetland's leadership as Onondaga County Legislature chair proved his ability to reach across the aisle. During his first run for chair, the ballots were divided right down party lines, Sweetland said. The second time he was voted in, he had majority support from both parties, he added.
"That goes a long way to show how I really reached to the other side," Sweetland said. "And that will carry over to how I work if I were elected."
Sweetland also said that unlike many of Congressmen, he has no ambition to be a career representative, so he would always do what was needed in his district even if it was unpopular with his party.
"In today's government, it is a system of longevity that breeds need for power and seniority," Sweetland said. "They ignore their constituents' concerns to maintain their statesmanship."
But Hawkins said his biggest change would be taxes that benefit the majority of his constituents who are working-class employees instead the rich owners of national corporations.
"That's why I am a Green Populist," Hawkins said. "Fair distribution of wealth and income - now that's good economics."
Hawkins said he would call for more taxation of wealthy business owners to help the working class achieve a better standard of living.
With ideas for his own projects to help promote green jobs in the region, Maffei said he planned to create jobs that could not be outsourced And with the promise of new jobs, Maffei said he believed he could sway enough voters to win the historically Republican district.
"You always want to leave the district in better shape than it was when you were voted in," Maffei said. "It's your responsibility to your constituents, no matter what party you are in."
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
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