Dan Maffei is a self-described nerd. He has a DVD collection of old television shows like “Star Trek” and “MASH” and “The Rockford Files.” He’s currently reading two books at once, both historical novels. And he insists he is not remotely comparable in attractiveness to his wife. He even cites his marriage to Abby Maffei as evidence of how he will be a successful freshman Congressman, making changes without seniority.
“My wife — who is beautiful, smart, intelligent, and a little younger than me — if you just look at both us you’d think ‘Why in the world is she with him?’ but the fact is I was so persistent and focused that although it took me six years, I wore her down,” (Dan Maffei, 25th District Congressional Democratic nominee.)
He says he would be just as persistent on behalf of the 25th Congressional District.
This is his second run for the office. In 2006, Maffei narrowly lost to Republican incumbent Jim Walsh. Since then, Walsh has decided to retire after 19 years. This time, the race features Maffei, Republican Dale Sweetland and Green Populist candidate Howie Hawkins. The district includes all of Onondaga and Wayne Counties, the northern portion of Cayuga County, and a few towns in Monroe County.
Maffei’s supporters say they see 2008 as Maffei’s race. Onondaga County Democratic Committee chairwoman, Diane Dwire, said she was impressed immediately with the “smart newcomer” during his first campaign.
“He’s taken on an onerous task. For somebody to come in and challenge – at that time an 18-year incumbent — where, as the Democratic Party, nobody energetic had really challenged Jim Walsh in a long time.” (Diane Dwire, chairwoman of the Onondaga County Democratic Committee)
Dwire says the Onondaga County Democratic Committee has helped Maffei’s campaign by fundraising for him, calling voters on his behalf, and providing Maffei with use of their office and campaign materials. Dwire also says that the issues Maffei stands for are in keeping with the Democratic Committee.
“Even though the war in Iraq doesn’t seem to be in the forefront now because everyone is so afraid of the financial situation, that they may be out of a job, but he really still has kept the war in the forefront.” (Diane Dwire, chairwoman of the Onondaga County Democratic Committee)
Maffei comes from four generations of central New Yorkers. One grandfather was a doctor and another an auto worker who eventually started his own business with his brothers.
“That kind of traditional business thing you always dream of — had about 100 workers who were somewhat a part of the family. Everyone got the best benefits the company could afford, turkeys at Thanksgiving. It was just part of the culture.” (Dan Maffei, 25th District Congressional Democratic nominee.)
Maffei graduated from Nottingham High School in 1986. He left Syracuse to attend Brown University and he received two masters’ degrees from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He returned to Syracuse to work as a television reporter for WSYR-TV. He said that there never was a defining moment for him to get into politics. He describe his journalistic work at WSYR-TV to be both insightful and constraining.
“When I was working as a TV reporter, I became interested in the way things changed, the way things worked, and I was getting to know a lot of people in the community. And I was frustrated by the constraints of local media, both by the type of stories we had to cover — traffic accidents, fires, and floods — but also not being able to be an advocate for some things that I thought were very important.” (Dan Maffei, 25th District Congressional Democratic nominee.)
Maffei decided to move again — this time to Capitol Hill. Senators Pat Moynihan and Senator Bill Bradley both employed Maffei as their press secretary. He also was the communications director of the Ways and Means Committee, working under Congressman Charles Rangel, a veteran Democrat of New York City.
“That’s about as good of background as you can have for this particular job. I’m not claiming I’d be a good county executive, governor, mayor, or executive. But in terms of working in the national legislature, understanding how it works, how you need to bring people together to get something done and how to work for your district and your area, I can’t think of anything I would’ve gone back and done differently.“ (Dan Maffei, 25th District Congressional Democratic nominee.)
While working as House Ways and Means committee’s communications director, Maffei met Abby Davidson. Maffei says he persistently pursued Davidson, now his wife. She says he really didn’t need to try that hard.
“He’s extremely genuine and thoughtful. And he always makes me laugh. We’ve been together for six years and he still will crack me up on a daily basis.” (Abby Davidson Maffei)
Maffei says if elected, his first priority is to bring jobs back to Central New York.
“It’s not simply quantity of jobs, but really contributing to putting this area back on the map again. And to make it a place where young people, young families want to come back and raise their children.” (Dan Maffei, 25th District Congressional Democratic nominee.)
The election is November 4th.
Reporting for Democracywise, Leigh Paynter.
(Leigh Paynter is a graduate student in broadcast journalism.)
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