NY-29: GOP Calls Out 2 Potential Dems (UPDATE)

On Friday Tom Reed, the GOP Candidate for the NY-29 seat vacated by the resignation of Eric Massa, sent out a press release I pasted below and attached to this report.  In short it calls on two Democrats (whose names have been mentioned as possible candidates) and asks them to define their platform on healthcare.

Those two Democrats are Assemblyman David Koon and aide to Governor David Paterson, Mary Wilmot.  (As an aside, I believe yours truly is the only one to confirm Wilmot has been approached – but GOP is clearly hearing her candidacy is a legitimate possibility.) 

This is interesting because the Democrats have yet to actually select a candidate!  In the absence of a candidate it appears the Reed camp is pushing the issue with two names being circulated.  I know from speaking with the Reed camp that they want the Governor to schedule this special election so they can move forward with the campaign.

Last word from the Democratic camp was that the county chairs were “slow playing” this hand and investing time into candidate selection – since they have some time as long as the Governor waits to declare this seat vacant.

When reached by phone Mary Wilmot declined to comment on this release.  Other than to say that she’s not a candidate right now and that she “respects the process the Democratic Party is undertaking” adding that commenting on this release “wouldn’t be fair to the process.”

I left a message with Assemblyman David Koon and will update if/when I hear back from him.

NEWS RELEASE FROM TOM REED FOR CONGRESS:

 VOTERS DESERVE TO KNOW HOW KOON AND WILMOT WOULD VOTE ON HEALTH CARE  

Congressional candidate Tom Reed this afternoon called on potential 29th Congressional District candidates Assemblyman David Koon and David Paterson aide Mary Wilmot to publicly declare whether or not they would support the healthcare reform bill passed by the Senate on Christmas Eve. That is the bill that will be considered by the House of Representatives on Sunday, either by an accountable vote or by being “deemed” passed.  

“The people of the 29th Congressional District deserve to know where the potential Democrat candidates stand on this bill which will have a significant, personal impact on everyone living in the United States,” Reed said. “I have been outspoken in my opposition to both the bill and the process in which it is being forced on everyone.  

“The backroom deals in the Senate bill, some of which still remain in the so-called sidecar bill posted on-line yesterday (with new deals added for North Dakota and Connecticut), as well as the probability that the House will pass this without actually voting on it both exemplify what is wrong with the process,” Reed said. “The Democrats and White House have had over a year to create and pass reform legislation, and even now they cannot come up with a bill to take an accountable vote on.”  

“Let’s stop the process and get together on incremental reforms both sides agree on such as prohibiting rejection based on pre-existing conditions and prohibiting interstate competition for health insurance. Then have a reasoned approach to larger reform that is based more on improving access to quality care than buying votes and twisting arms.”

“Please Assemblyman Koon and Ms. Wilmot, publicly announce where you stand on the House accepting the Senate bill,” Reed repeated.  

Earlier this week, Reed called on House Speaker Nance Pelosi to delay the vote on accepting President Obama’s healthcare plan until after special elections have been held to fill four vacant House seats representing 2.5 million citizens.