It has been nearly a year since Jon Powers announced his intent to run for the congressional seat currently held by Tom Reynolds. I was at the event, held in Clarence, and I was immediately struck by the candidate’s candor about his upbringing and the time he spent in Iraq.
My first conversation with Jon Powers was about teaching social studies. Powers appeared genuine, a quality not found in many politicians. I met his parents and they were very supportive of their son’s efforts, and they are wonderful people. Jon also seemed determined and yet at the time the prospects of a vibrant young Iraq war veteran beating Tom Reynolds seemed overwhelming.
Within the first six months of the campaign, Powers reached out to Democratic committees across the state. In his travels, he spent a lot of time in Orleans County getting to know the voters. In gatherings large and small, Powers listened intently. It was during this period that I began to admire Jon’s work ethic.
By January, I started to hear rumors that Tom Reynolds was going to retire from Congress. At that point, Jon had established himself as the hardest working candidate. While I was campaigning in New Hampshire for Hillary Clinton, Jon’s name came up repeatedly, proof that his hard work was paying off. Democrats wanted to know more about the candidate from Clarence.
In March, Tom Reynolds made it official; he was not going to run for re-election. The pundits wondered who would vie for the seat. The heir apparent was George Maziarz, but after some thoughtful consideration, he decided that he was not going to run. That left the Republican side in limbo while Jon continued to campaign.
Other Democrats are seeking the nomination, but none of them has fostered the relationships that Jon has with Democratic committees in the district. That is why every single committee in the 26th Congressional District has endorsed Jon Powers. Hard work trumped hard cash, which is the way things should be.
Earlier this month, I officially joined the Jon Powers for Congress campaign as a volunteer. Anyone who has volunteered for a campaign, or run for office, realizes that there is a tremendous time commitment involved. It means giving up weekends and evenings, having people hang up the phone on you and having doors slammed in your face. In other words, you really have to believe in a candidate to offer your services to them.
My sacrifice pales in comparison to Jon’s service for his country while a soldier in Iraq. I am just a campaign worker; soldiers like Jon are true heroes, as is everyone who serves in the military.
I firmly believe that Jon Powers will be a great congressperson. I have witnessed firsthand Jon’s grassroots campaign evolve over the last year. In spite of the accolades, the endorsements and the ever-growing volunteer base, Jon Powers is still the same guy I met in Clarence a year ago. He is the Real Deal.
Thom Jennings lives in Albion. For comments write to vaggm@gnnewspaper.com. The Real Deal from Orleans County is now available as an audio podcast on iTunes.
Columns
Related Photos
Discussion
May 28, 2008
JENNINGS: Powers is the true ‘Real Deal’
- Columns
-
-
FARLEY: The Erie Canal gun telegraph
The following communication was first published by the Buffalo Historical Society on April 7, 1863.
-
CONFER: Climate security and economic run
We live in an era of much unrest in which people fear for their security, be it socially (terror threats), economically (recession), or environmentally (global warming). Feeding off this, our elected officials have been quite successful in using fear-mongering to introduce endless amounts of legislation that do much more harm than good.
-
HARDING: Today is Memorial Day
Besides being my birthday today, May 30 is the true Memorial Day. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and serves as a day to remember those who have died defending our country.
-
VALLEY: I’ll be on third-base side, section 22
I’ve become a creature of habit. I think it’s because of the sense of security that it offers. The repetition of doing the same thing on a routine basis provides less chance that my already vulnerable focus will be altered — or that my single-dimensioned lifestyle will be challenged by something that entails exertion.
-
GUEST VIEW: Farm bill would aid the rich
The front page of the May 23 issue of this newspaper showed a photo of U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer looking determined under the headline “Farm bill appears veto-proof.” Admittedly, Sen. Schumer is one of our most vocal legislators, if not exactly the brightest bulb in the box. Critical thinking is not his strong suit. But considering the company he keeps, this isn’t surprising.
-
JENNINGS: Powers is the true ‘Real Deal’
It has been nearly a year since Jon Powers announced his intent to run for the congressional seat currently held by Tom Reynolds. I was at the event, held in Clarence, and I was immediately struck by the candidate’s candor about his upbringing and the time he spent in Iraq.
-
HESS: Nature or nurture?
The other day as Henrietta was giving me the stare-down and I was going through the repertoire of things that she could possibly have wanted, I realized that she would likely not survive with another family. She has us (I like to say “us” but that really means “me”) so well trained and happy to comply with her every whim — even when I don’t know what it is — that she would be hard pressed to find a family who could read her mind as well as I do.
-
VALLEY: The search for intelligent life (on Earth)
Headline news from various parts of the world ran a parallel course last week as both Great Britain and the Vatican released statements regarding alien life. British officials have decided to release previously classified documents on UFOs and the Vatican has issued a statement explaining that extra-terrestrials and religion can co-exist (on an unrelated matter: I wish they’d also explain why we always have to put the article “the” in front of “Vatican”).
- FARLEY: The ice house on the canal The history of the Erie Canal is filled with information that doesn’t seem to fit into a typical category. One such item was gleaned from the life of Paul Murphy, born in Hartland in 1892.
-
GUEST VIEW: Orleans County’s assets shouldn’t be overlooked
Audubon of New York’s Winter 2008 Newsletter reports an 80 percent decline in field sparrows, an 87 percent decline in eastern meadowlarks and a 98 percent decline in grasshopper sparrows in New York state. There were no figures for the vesper sparrows that have long occupied a roadside niche on the back roads of Orleans County.
- More Columns Headlines
-
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Coroner: Houston Autopsy Results Weeks Away
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
