Making the MTA a campaign issue

Frank Powers thinks his experience as a board member of the MTA will be "a positive in the campaign." I think that is a great stance for him to take and welcome having the despised transportation system a central issue in the election. I still think Harrison and McMahon are right in making Iraq and a quick and safe withdraw the key issue but that said the MTA and transportation may not be far behind.

I am not sure when the last time the MTA was in the news for something positive and that is no different today;

The MTA's finances have been tanking - and straphangers may get hit with another round of fare hikes - but that didn't stop Authority CEO Elliot Sander from snagging a raise.

Hired to the tune of $340,000 just 18 months ago, Sander last month received a $10,000 boost to his economic package, which includes a base salary and other benefits, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority confirmed Monday.

How great would it be to involve the Transportation Workers Union Local 100 against Powers the ridiculously wealthy MTA board member? With Fossella out of the picture unions can more easily back the Democratic nominee this time around, something that they have been hesitant to do in the past. In 2004 I often did phone banking for Frank Barbaro and worked side by side with several TWU members who really hit their messaging of transportation importance to the district. At the time we were going through recent fare hikes and the express bus service to the district had taken a significant increase. They would be an extremely powerful ally in GOTV efforts. Making this race about the working class versus executive board members would be a powerful message.

Libertarian Party Endorses Susan Overeem

via the NY Times;

The Libertarian Party selected Susan Overeem on Monday night as the nominee for the Congressional seat being vacated by Representative Vito J. Fossella of Staten Island. She had nearly three times as many votes as the other Libertarian candidate, Francis M. Powers, the son of the Republican Party candidate, Francis H. Powers.

Fran Powers still likely to not support his dad on the Republican line. Let's revisit his comments from yesterday's post;

"We can't have the Republicans take this seat again," he added. "A vote for my father is a vote for the straight Republican ticket."

Meet the Candidates

Candidate speculation is retired for now. The new post is meet the candidates since the third parties couldn't let the big two have all the frantic fun.

update: The endorsements listed below are just of the county party endorsements. While there are many other endorsements by clubs and organizations with Harrison having most of them, they have been covered previously and this is just to get a picture of the potential primaries for each party. Since I am adding this update I might also mention that Susan Overeem won the Libertarian endorsement.

Democratic:
Steve Harrison
Mike McMahon, endorsed by Richmond and Brooklyn County Party

Republican:
Frank Powers, endorsed by Richmond and Brooklyn County Party
Ramshad Wyne

Conservative:
no endorsement yet

Independence:
Carmine Morano, endorsed

Working Families Party:
Mike McMahon, endorsed

Libertarian:
Fran Powers (the son)
Susan Overeem

Nobody wants Frank Powers

Not even his son;

An already topsy-turvy political year grew even more so yesterday when Francis M. Powers, the son of GOP designee Francis H. Powers, said he would seek the Libertarian Party line to run for Congress.

some more fun choice quotes from son about dad's candidacy;

"I know his policies. I'm running against someone I know."

"We can't have the Republicans take this seat again," he added. "A vote for my father is a vote for the straight Republican ticket." [emphasis mine]

Fran Powers will need to gather 3,000 signatures to gain ballot access which may be the only thing keeping us from a very entertaining race on that side of the spectrum.

via the DCCC;

"The Bush-McCain Republican agenda is so unpopular that Republican candidates for Congress can't even rely on their own family members for support any more."