Mesi easily wins Democratic primary
Says ‘fresh new face’ played role in victory for State Senate race, notes desire for change
It wasn’t the kind of knockout he was known for in the boxing ring, but Joe Mesi won a fight Tuesday in his Democratic primary bid for State Senate.
Meanwhile, 36-year veteran State Senator Dale M. Volker easily fended off a spirited challenge from a foe backed by an anti-incumbent group. Mesi, widely known as “Baby Joe” during his days as a heavyweight boxer, was leading in a spirited three-way battle to run on the Democratic line for the seat that Williamsville Republican Mary Lou Rath has held for 15 years at the State Capitol.
Mesi, aided by a massive media blitz, said he thinks the fact that he is a “fresh new face” in politics played a role in Tuesday’s primary victory. He insisted that his lack of governmental experience is a plus in a state that is in need of reform.
“People are very, very eager for change,” he said.
With about 95 percent of the vote tallied in Erie and Genesee counties, Mesi was leading with 53 percent, compared with 35 percent for Michele M. Iannello and 12 percent for Daniel J. Ward.
The Democratic dogfight in the 61st District was notable in several respects:
Mesi’s campaign received substantial assistance from a political committee formed by billionaire and Buffalo Sabres owner B. Thomas Golisano.
Iannello has alleged that the billionaire’s Responsible New York committee has spent more than the legal limit to boost Mesi’s campaign, a charge that was denied by committee cochairman Steven Pigeon.
Mesi said that while he appreciates Golisano’s support, he believes he would have won without the infusion of a yet-to-be disclosed amount of cash from Responsible New York.
Adding another twist to the race is the fact that Ward, Amherst Town Board member, is brother-in-law of Iannello, an Erie County Legislator.
Ranzenhofer wins
Mesi will face Republican Michael H. Ranzenhofer in the November general election for the State Senate.
Ranzenhofer, an Erie County Legislator, will also be the Independence Party candidate; he easily defeated challenger William J. Walters in Tuesday’s Independence primary. With 95 percent of the vote tallied in Erie and Genesee counties, Ranzenhofer was ahead with 71 percent, compared with 29 percent for Walters.
Ranzenhofer will also have the Republican and Conservative lines, while Mesi will have the Democratic and Working Families lines. Ranzenhofer, an attorney, claimed the difference between him and Mesi is that his challenger is running with the backing of someunions and a political group controlled by Pigeon and Golisano.
“That’s one of the things that’s wrong with Albany. There’s too much focus on [serving] special interests,” Ranzenhofer said.
The district includes part of the City of Tonawanda, the towns of Amherst, Tonawanda, Clarence and Newstead, and the villages of Akron, Kenmore and Williamsville in Erie County and all of Genesee County.
Republicans outnumber Democrats by only about 8,000 voters, and Mesi expressed hope that November would help Democrats take control of the Senate that has long been dominated by Republicans.
Volker wins big
In the 59th State Senate District, which spans four counties, incumbent Dale M. Volker fended off a Republican primary challenge from an East Aurora businessman David J. DiPietro.
Volker, a 36-year incumbent, was leading his challenger by 57 percent to 43 percent, with 78 percent of precincts in the district reporting. “This is a victory for positive campaigning,” Volker said. “This campaign was the most negative campaign I’ve ever had run against me . . . and I refused to retaliate.”
Volker won convincing victories in Wyoming and Livingston counties. He said he received unofficial results from Ontario County showing that he beat his challenger by a better than two-to-one margin.
DiPietro was clutching to a thin lead in Erie County. With 95 percent of the votes tallied in their home county, DiPietro had 4,127 compared with Volker’s 3,929.
Volker also has the Conservative and Independence lines in November. Republican Party Chairman James P. Domagalski said he thinks Volker will fare well against his Democratic opponent in November as he stresses his involvement in everything from upgrades at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Ralph Wilson Stadium, to assistance for farmers.
Konst easily wins
Two Democrats vied for a shot at opposing Volker in the November election.
With 78 percent of precincts reporting in the district, Kathy Konst of Lancaster easily beat endorsed Democratic candidate Timothy J. Pawaraski, an Elma lawyer.
Konst, an Erie County legislator from Lancaster, had 77 percent of the vote to Pawarski’s 23 percent.
Konst has forged a reputation as a political maverick and she said she’s confident of victory in November.
“People get it,” she said Tuesday night as she visited
Livingston County. “People know we can’t keep doing things the same old way.”
Thompson wins
In the 60th State Senate District, incumbent Antoine M. Thompson ensured himself another two years in office after easily defeating Buffalo attorney Mark J. Grisanti in the Democratic primary.
There are no candidates on the Republican, Conservative or Independence lines in the November election. Only Thompson’s name will appear on the ballot as both the Democratic and Working Families Party candidate.
With 98 percent of the vote tallied in Erie and Niagara counties, Thompson received 72 percent to Grisanti’s 28 percent. Thompson is a former Masten Common Council member who won primary endorsements from the Erie County Democrats’ executive committee and about 20 labor groups, including most of the large municipal unions. Grisanti made his first run for elective office.
During the campaign, Thompson stressed his five-year stint on the Council, his past experience helping entrepreneurs and his most recent position in Albany.
“The big thing is leadership,” he said.
