http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/303538.html
Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds, a dominant figure in local and state politics for a quarter-century, will not run for a sixth term in the House of Representatives, according to two top Republican sources close to the situation.
Reynolds, 57, is expected to make the announcement in a noon news conference after weeks of refusing to say whether he would run again.
His decision follows a close election against Democrat Jack Davis in 2006 and the prospect of another tough re-election bid this year against Davis or one of the other two Democratic challengers.
“He’ll announce at noon that he will not seek re-election,” said a GOP source who is familiar with the congressman’s plans. “He’s had a great career, and great careers only last so long.”
One GOP source who had discussed the developments with other party leaders identified the two top contenders to succeed Reynolds as State Sen. George D. Maziarz of Newfane and Assemblyman James E. Hayes of Amherst.
Neither was available to comment Wednesday.
As recently as Monday, Hayes reiterated his intention not to run for the State Senate seat being vacated by Mary Lou Rath of Williamsville, indicating he was planning to remain in the Assembly. But party sources say the Reynolds retirement could change the situation.
Reynolds won his 2006 race against Davis by only 52 to 48 percent. And though he has maintained an active fundraising schedule that was expected to significantly in- crease his approximately $ 1 million campaign treasury, Davis said over the weekend that he was prepared to spend $3 million of his own funds — significantly more than the $2 million he had previously committed.
The Reynolds decision also casts a new light on the Democratic effort to topple him, which also involves two other contenders — Jonathan Powers of Clarence and Alice J. Kryzan of Buffalo.
That situation is muddied by Davis’ new spending pledge, which comes as Powers continues to gain union and party endorsements, putting even more pressure on Erie County Democrats as they consider Powers and Kryzan as “fresh faces,” or Davis and his millions.
“I can beat this guy, and this extra $1 million shows I’m really committed,” Davis said Wednesday. “Nobody else will have that kind of money.”
Reynolds, the former chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, spent $5.2 million in 2006 to beat Davis, with much of that stemming from the national fund he controlled
He has since retired from that post and faced the prospect of raising even more money on his own to Davis’ personal wealth. This year, Reynolds has raised about $1 million.
If Davis sticks to his pledge, he will have spent $6.6 million of his own money over three campaigns that have emphasized his opposition to free-trade agreements and their effects on domestic employment.
But Powers is supported by five Democratic county committees, and sources say he also has a good shot with Erie County Democrats — the largest and most influential organization in the 26th District.
The Erie County endorsement is expected in two or three weeks, while Monroe County Democrats are expected to endorse later this month.
All three candidates appeared before the Erie County Democrats’ executive committee Saturday, with Davis, president of I Squared R Element Co. of Newstead, highlighting his new monetary commitment.
He also expressed his support for Leonard R. Lenihan to continue as Erie County Democratic chairman.
“To me, what makes Len special is loyalty,” Davis said at the meeting, while emphasizing the substantial donations he has made over the past two years to local Democratic treasuries.
“Without Len’s friendship, encouragement, insight and recommendations of the people I hired, the money I contributed to the Democratic Party in Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, Monroe, Livingston and Wyoming counties, and all the Democratic towns’ parties, and all the contributions to the Democrats for state and local offices, would not have occurred,” he added.
Powers this week announced the support of Town of Lancaster Democrats; Local 86, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.
In January, he had raised about $369,000, while Kryzan reported raising about $210,000.
Powers is a substitute teacher in Clarence; Kryzan is an Amherst lawyer.
One more prick out of the local political scene :tup: Upstate republicans are dropping like flies. Powers looks to be a fairly strong candidate for a n00b. Jack Davis almost picked up the seat in '06 as a 1-issue candidate, I’d say Powers has a good chance if they avoid a primary fight.