STATEMENT FROM POWERS FOR CONGRESS REGARDING JACK DAVIS’ ANNOUNCEMENT FOR CONGRESS IN NEW YORK’S 26TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
It is time for a serious leader who can bring the kind of change that will help middle class families who are economically squeezed and bring a responsible end to the Iraq War. Money can buy you a lot, but the voters of Western New York are not for sale. That is why I have earned the support of the Democratic leaders and grassroots activists across the district.
Jon Powers
Endorsed Democratic Candidate for Congress
New York’s 26th Congressional District
Monroe County Democrats Endorse Jon Powers in New York’s 26th Congressional District
Powers is now the Democratic endorsed candidate in NY-26
Rochester, NY – April 11, 2008 – Monroe County has answered the call for new leadership in New York’s 26th Congressional District. “Today we celebrate not only the beginning of the Jon Powers campaign, but the beginning of a new era of change,” said Joe Morelle, Chair of the Monroe County Democratic Committee, in an official endorsement of Jon Powers.
”I am truly honored to have the support of Chairman Morelle, Legislator Beebe, and the leaders of our Monroe County Democrats,” said Jon Powers, former captain in the U.S. Army, Iraq war veteran and Democratic candidate for Congress in the 26th Congressional District of New York. ”Together, we can provide the unified front necessary to not only win in November, but bring real leadership and change to Western New York and Washington.”
With Monroe County’s endorsement, Jon Powers is the endorsed Democratic Candidate for New York’s 26th Congressional District. Powers has received the endorsements in 6 of the 7 counties in the district and two of the four towns in the one hold-out county – Erie County.
“Jon’s leadership and ability to bring new solutions to the many important issues in our community – jobs and economy, healthcare, education, the war in Iraq, and the need for drastic reforms in Washington – is a refreshing break from the business as usual approach by Washington Insiders,” said Jo Meleca-Voigt, Greece Democratic Committee leader
Powers’ Endorsements:
· Monroe County Democratic Committee
· Niagara County Democratic Committee
· Genesee County Democratic Committee
· Livingston County Democratic Committee
· Orleans County Democratic Committee
· Wyoming County Democratic Committee
· Town of Greece Democratic Committee
· Town of Parma Democratic Committee
· Town of Clarence Democratic Committee
· Town of Lancaster Democratic Committee
· Service Employees International Union Local 1199
· American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 264
· International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Joint Council No. 46
· United Food and Commercial Workers
· International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
· United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers Industrial Union District 4
· International Union of Painters & Allied Trades
· International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 86
· American Postal Workers, Rochester S/C Area Local
· Transport Workers Union of America
· VoteVets
· VetPAC
· General Wesley Clark
· Senator Bob Kerrey
· Senator John Kerry
Jon Powers Seems To Be Spoiling For A Fight
The following article is from PoliticsNY.net- Editor J.Illuzzi
26th Congressional District candidate Jon Powers’ campaign released this statement, claiming that Mr. Reynolds is now enmeshed in his “second scandal in as many elections.”
“Roll Call Newspaper reported yesterday that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) stopped conducting independent audits of its finances the same year that Tom Reynolds took the helm as the Chairman of the organization. Reynolds released a statement saying that, “It was my understanding that throughout my tenure as NRCC Chairman audits were performed on a regular basis. At no point in time were any red flags raised about those audits. It now appears over an extended period of time a long-serving professional staff member may have put together an elaborate scheme resulting in financial irregularities that are currently under review. I fully support this investigation in an attempt to uncover the truth.”
“The facts are not on Mr. Reynolds’ side. A cursory look at the NRCC filings show that from 2001-2003 the NRCC under Rep. Tom Davis spent $64,000 on various accounting expenses, including audits by Deloitte & Touche. During Tom Reynolds’ tenure the NRCC’s only expense to Deloitte & Touche was for $2,000 and not one payment was logged as audit expenses during the entire time period. Roll Call reports that Republican sources say that the committee has not had an audit since 2003.
“Fiscal irresponsibility aside, this lack of oversight raises several questions with regard to criminal conduct. Generally, lenders will request an audit before granting loans. The NRCC received $11,000,000 in loans during Tom Reynolds’ tenure and there is currently an FBI investigation as to whether audits were conducted and if the NRCC, under Reynolds’ leadership, presented fraudulent material in order to obtain loans.
“This is not the first time Reynolds has attempted to abscond from a scandal by blaming others. In 2006, Congressman Mark Foley attempted to engage in pedophilia with a 16 year old congressional page. Instead of taking action when he heard about “odd, but not explicit” emails (as Reynolds, himself, described them in his 2006 TV ad) from a congressman to a 16 year old boy, Reynolds casually passed the information along to “his supervisor,” then House Speaker Dennis Hastert. “With the Foley scandal Tom blamed his supervisor and with the NRCC scandal, Tom is blaming his subordinate? Does Tom Reynolds ever accept responsibility for his poor leadership or does he just pass the buck?” stated Powers for Congress Campaign Manager, John Gerken. “Western New Yorkers deserve better than this. They deserve real leadership and accountability in Washington, DC, not a Congressman embroiled in scandal.”
