For the new 22nd Congressional District, Tea Party activist Michael Kicinski of Earlville and Democrat Dan Lamb of Freeville are challenging.U.S. Rep.Richard Hanna, R-Barneveld.
Kicinski is seeking the Republican nomination and will face Hanna in the GOP’s primary on June 26. Lamb will face the winner in the general election on Nov. 6.
The new 22nd Congressional District was formerly the 24th Congressional District. It has been redesigned for the election. Redistricting is required every 10 years under the Constitution to account for changes in population. In the 2010 census, New York state lost two Congressional districts, down to 27 from 29.
Here are sketches of the two challengers:
Michael Kicinski (Challenger, Republican)
A former Hanna supporter, Kicinski said he is running because he wants to see the national debt lowered.
“I’m very concerned about this nation and the future for the nation and our children and our children’s children,” Kicinski said.
Kicinski, 53, is an electronics engineer. In 2003, he moved to Earlville, where he lives with his wife, Cathy, a registered nurse; 12 children; and one daughter-in-law. He is the founder of the Norwich TEA Party Patriots.
According to his campaign website, Kicinski is a regular attendee of Earlville town board meetings. He also ran for mayor and trustee in Earlville.
Dan Lamb (Challenger, Democrat)
Lamb was a longtime senior aide to U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-Hurley, who is retiring.
His campaign did not respond to several interview requests.
He is stressing his familiarity with Congress as one of his main strengths, according to his website. “For the past 14 years, I have dedicated myself to public service and to the idea that our government should work for all Americans, not just the wealthiest 1 percent,” says Lamb on his website. “I know I can provide that leadership, and I’m ready to build on Congressman Hinchey’s legacy as a progressive champion for our part of New York.”
Lamb, 44, lives in Freeville with his 11-year-old son, Austin, according to his website. He graduated from the Maxwell School of Public Affairs atSyracuse University with a master’s degree in public administration and has a bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College.
He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Ithaca, the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council, the Community Advisory Committee of Cornell’s Johnson Museum, Tompkins County Climate Protection Initiative, Broome County Flood Task Force and the Tompkins County Democratic Committee.
For major issues, his campaign website cites job creation, economic growth, education, infrastructure development, flood recovery and the risk of hydraulic fracturing.
(Kathleen Lees is a graduate student in magazine, newspaper and online journalism.)
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