[Update: On May 1st, the Onondaga County Republican Party nominated Dale Sweetland as its choice for the 25th Congressional District. Sweetland received 94 percent of the vote, with Assemblyman Bob Oaks coming in second with 5 percent. On May 6, Oaks withdrew from the race, endorsing Sweetland. But the remaining two candidates — David Gay and Mark-Paul Serafin — tell Democracywise they are staying in the race.]
<“Professional Politician: You won’t find that on the resumes of some of the candidates running for the 25th Congressional District. After twenty years in office, Republican incumbent Jim Walsh is retiring. Democracywise reporter Beth Croughan tells us who is looking to take the empty seat and why they say they’re qualified.>
The 25th District seat is up for grabs and four Republicans and one Democrat have put their names in the running.
The Onondaga County Republican Party has received letters of intent, as of April 29, from David Gay, a Syracuse resident, and Mark-Paul Serafin, a Village of Manlius trustee. Also looking to get the party’s nomination is State Assemblyman Bob Oaks and Dale Sweetland, former Onondaga County legislator. The Onondaga County Republican Party will choose its nominee on May 1st.
On the Democratic side, former Walsh challenger Dan Maffei is back on the campaign trail. Maffei is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination. The Onondaga County Democratic Committee will designate its candidates on May 15th.
But, Christina Rosetti, an author and life-long peace activist, is once again challenging Maffei for the Working Families Party nomination. The party will choose its nominee in June.
The 25th Congressional District is made up of Onondaga and Wayne counties, along with parts of Monroe and Cayuga. About 70 percent of voters are in Onondaga County, according to the New York State Board of Elections. And there are approximately 150,000 registered Republicans and 137,000 registered Democrats in the District.
Here’s an early look, as of April 29, at the candidates for the 25th Congressional District:
Dan Maffei (Democrat)
Maffei lost to incumbent Jim Walsh in 2006 by just 3,400 votes.
Born and raised in Syracuse, Maffei graduated from Nottingham High School. He took his bachelor’s degree from Brown University and has two master’s degrees — one from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and the second master’s degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
After college, Maffei worked as a reporter for WSYR News. He also worked as a staffer for former Democratic Senators Bill Bradley and Daniel Patrick Moynihan. He also was the senior staff member on the House Ways and Means committee. Now he is the senior vice president of Pinnacle Capital Management, a financial firm in Franklin Square.
Maffei said he decided to run for Congress because he is looking for change in upstate New York.
<“The national policies just haven’t been very good in this area. A lot of changes need to be done. Young people like myself are moving out and they’re not coming back — not because they don’t want to, but because they don’t think there are many opportunities here.” Dan Maffei, Democratic Congressional candidate>
Maffei says if he’s elected he will focus on economic development, health-care overhaul and a withdrawal strategy from Iraq. He says he thinks his desire for change is what sets him apart from his competitors.
<“That real movement for change and that energy for change, the idea of being extremely persistent. I’m not Barack Obama, I’m not some great speaker and I’m not someone who has been in the political arena for years like some of my opponents. But I have a lot of a spirit. I understand the way the federal government works. That’s a good thing — but it’s the desire to change the way we are doing things now, think outside the box, push the envelope.” Dan Maffei, Democratic Congressional candidate>
So far, Maffei has raised over 855,000 dollars from more than 3,000 donors, according to the Federal Election Commission.
Christina Rosetti (Working Families)
Christina Rosetti is running against Maffei for nomination by the Working Families party. She describes herself as a spiritual person.
<“I strongly believe that most of the problems we have are from spiritual ignorance, and that we’ve really gotten off track.” Christina Rosetti, Congressional candidate>
Rosetti has written three books about spirituality: “The New Spiritual Bible,” “Angel Justice” and “The Secret Revealed.” She also tutors in college mathematics, physics and chemistry. Rosetti says she is running for Congress to bring attention to issues that are not always at the top of the political agenda. As an anti-war activist, she criticizes the Iraq war with reminders of the Congressional vote on the Gulf of Tonkin resolution that started the Vietnam War.
<“We’re only one Gulf of Tonkin resolution away from having a draft.” Christina Rosetti, Congressional candidate>
She has had a few unsuccessful attempts at political office, including a run for president in 2000. Despite her losses, Rosetti says she is not discouraged by Maffei and the other candidates. Rosetti says she just wants her voice to be heard.
<“If you have an idea you have to follow that, if I did anything else…I’m trying to do something new here. I know the odds are against it.” Christina Rosetti, Congressional candidate>
In 2006, Rosetti ran a zero-dollar campaign. But she says she hopes to raise money this time around.
Mark-Paul Serafin (Republican)
During his freshman year of college, Mark-Paul Serafin’s dad died suddenly of a heart attack. Six weeks later, Mark-Paul was diagnosed with cancer. And after undergoing chemotherapy, he graduated on-time with highest honors from The Rochester Institute of Technology. Serafin says he thinks his life experiences make him more than qualified for Congress.
<“Because of what I’ve been through. What happens to a young person maybe can endow you with a sense of empathy and humanity that maybe some people don’t get if they don’t face their mortality or some real serious health issues.” Mark-Paul Serafin, Republican Congressional candidate>
Serafin is 50 years old, an artist and a trustee of the Village of Manlius. He was elected in 2007. Serafin says he thinks he is in touch with the needs of the people.
<“ I know ‘ change’ is an overused word this election cycle, but I really think it’s important because the same old status quo, I think, has got to go. For me to be a fresh point of view, a fresh voice, a little different because I’m not a professional politician, I don’t have a long political resume. But I do have a good heart, sound mind and a real commitment to Central New York.” Mark-Paul Serafin, Republican Congressional candidate>
Serafin says that if elected he will focus on updating the infrastructure of Central New York and developing an exit strategy for the Iraq War.
David Gay (Republican)
At 27, Syracuse resident David Gay is making noise — both politically, and as a punk-rocker in his band, Crash Martinez. Gay was the Syracuse coordinator for libertarian Ron Paul’s presidential campaign. Gay says he is running for the Republican nomination for the 25th Congressional District to give the common tax-payer a voice.
<“I don’t feel necessarily that my party is well representing me right now.” David Gay, Republican Congressional candidate>
Gay wants immediate withdrawal from Iraq and calls for a limited government.
<“Our bank statements, our credit cards, what we eat for dinner — are none of the governments’ business.” David Gay, Republican Congressional candidate>
Gay says he is not worried about lacking name recognition in politics.
<“People are drawn to that — they want a non-establishment candidate. Someone who is young and enthusiastic. Someone who knows exactly what they’re thinking. I know what taxpayers need because I’m one of them. I’m not a politician just pushing a pencil around.” David Gay, Republican Congressional candidate>
Gay has been endorsed by libertarian presidential candidate Ron Paul.
Dale Sweetland (Republican)
Dale Sweetland has the most recognizable name on the Republican ballot. Sweetland served on the Onondaga County Legislator for 13 years. And in 2007, he ran unsuccessfully for his party’s nomination for Onondaga County Executive. He narrowly lost in the Republican primary to eventual office-winner Joanie Mahoney.
Despite repeated requests, Sweetland did not make himself available for interviews for this story.
Sweetland is 59 years old and a resident of Fabius. He is married and has two grown children. Sweetland served as the supervisor for the Town of Fabius for five years. In 1994, he was elected to represent Onondaga County’s 12th District as county legislator and in 2002, was elected as chairman. To run for county executive against Mahoney, he gave up his seat as chairman of the county legislature. He is now chairman in the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council.
Bob Oaks (Republican)
Bob Oaks has served Wayne County as state Assemblyman for the 128th District for 15 years. Oaks is 56 years old and is a lifelong Wayne County resident. He grew up on a family farm. Now he owns an insurance company whose clients include families, small businesses and farm owners. Oaks received a degree in political science from Colgate University. He also earned a masters degree in recreation administration from the University of Montana. Oaks lives in Macedon with his wife Judy and their two sons.
Oaks serves as the Deputy Minority Leader for the state assembly. He is also on the Volunteer Firefighters Sub-committee, the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee, the Assembly Minority Task Force on the State of New York Agriculture, and the Commission on State and Local Relations.
Oaks also did not grant an interview for this story.
On May 1st, the Onondaga County Republican Party will designate its nominee. The Working Families Party will decide in June and the Democrats on May 15. Election Day is November 4th.
For Democracywise, I’m Beth Croughan.
(Beth Croughan is a junior broadcast journalism and political science major.)
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