The reds here refused to budge (or think).

Written by: SUZANNE COOGAN on

As Democrats in the heart of rural "red" Western New York, Wyoming County, we knew we were tackling a difficult challenge in attempting to elect a fine slate of Democratic candidates that included Eliot Spitzer for Governor.

The 147th NYS Assembly District (which includes all of Wyoming, and parts of Livingston, Genesee and Allegany Counties) had gone unchallenged by a Dem for a couple cycles, and when Judith Hunter chose to announce her candidacy as a Dem at our home town Firehall, we were in attendance. We had heard of her background as a history prof and were interested in hearing her views. She eloquently pointed out that if the district elected a Dempcrat, the majority Assembly party, then the district's concerns could be brought to the table, whereas a Rep (minority party) assemblyman couldn't even be in the room, much less get to the table. We were sold.

I wanted to get involved in her campaign. I decided I needed to know more about the local Dem party, and talking with the Warsaw Committee Chair learned there was an opening in my district. So I went out, got the signatures required on a petition and became a member of the Wyoming Dem Committee, albeit an underling. Not surprisingly, the Party have been the underdogs for so long here that they have barely any life left. For this campaign a fantastic slate was there to push, nearly all good candidates, so the group seemed to perk up a bit. But not enough to raise a pile of money or get excited enough to canvass. They knew they would lose.

Hunter, as a first time entry, had to build a grass roots campaign from scratch. Friends, relatives, neighbors and fellow Dems were tapped to help support the events she needed to attend to get visibility and meet her constituency that was spread across 45 towns in four counties. She had t-shirts made for every volunteer. She ordered palm cards, pens, magnets, car signs and yard signs, and somehow saved enough money for some print and radio ads for the last few weeks of the campaign.

Her volunteers marched with Judith in parades, leafletted at the County Fair, and participated in village canvasses, knocking on doors and talking up her plans for Albany. As she campaigned, we were very impressed with the majority of our short meetings with residents of the 147th District. Many liked the idea of someone new, a woman, a Democrat, a non-incumbent, someone who promoted change and reform.

Yet, raising money proved difficult (not suprising given the makeup of the District), so the campaign was always cutting corners. A spaghetti dinner, an art & collectibles auction were held. A position/appeal letter was mailed to female Dems in the District, another to business owners. A healthy number of endorsements came in but didn’t bring any cash with them. It seemed as if the Party didn’t know she existed.

The 147th residents are a diverse bunch which include a range of individualists. But the Rep majority are a smug, hard-eyed moneyed bunch, and consider the Dems quite beneath them. There were an occasional few Reps to dispute this observation, who were open to thoughtful discussion, or conversely, a Dem that was happily well off. But in this district, I believe we have a class war between the parties, and many of the members of both enjoy it that way, though would never admit this could possibly be true. Many people have confided that they've registered Rep in order to get and keep a job in this county, especially those who are county employees.

For the various Districts, gerrymandered lines create about 60-66% Rep vs.30-33% Dem in Wyoming, Genesee, Allegany, Livingston, and Orleans Counties. Barring a cataclysmic calamity (such as this election  supplied) no Dem could possibly be elected if voters stay within party lines.

On Election Day, the Spitzer wave brought the dawning possibility of an all-Dem win, but the steadfast Reps in the district came out in droves (49%  of the registered voters came out) to proudly support their sleaze-beleaguered Congressman Tom Reynolds (52-48%) and female-threatened Assemblyman Dan Burling (67-33%), as well as to note their lack of confidence in their incumbent US Senator, Hillary Clinton.

Well, the loyal "reds" showed the rest of us, didn't they? Showed us, as well as the rest of the nation. Wyoming County is one of only four counties in NYS that voted Rep. for their US Senator.  And strangely, I don't think any of them think of themselves as the laughingstock of the nation.

 So, was Hunter's campaign for naught? I think not. If the Dems do well in NYS in the coming 18 months, she will have built the name-recognition and the background for a second campaign. 2008 could be another opportunity once more, here in "red" country to turn.

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Location: NY