Published: August 29, 2008 10:07 pm      

ELECTION 2008: Congress: Davis a no-show at group functions

Alice Kryzan and Jonathan Powers, contenders for the Democratic nomination for U.S. House of Representatives, 26th District, will participate in a candidates’ forum Sunday on WBEN radio and a formal debate Tuesday at Geneseo State College.

Jack Davis will not.

Davis’ campaign spokesman, Joy Langley, said Davis decided this week that he will not take part in any group candidate functions unless Kryzan and Powers answer his prior challenges on campaign conduct.

The self-funded candidate, who committed $3 million of his own money to the race, earlier this year pledged not to accept campaign donations from political action committees, multinational corporations or lobbyists. He invited other contestants to join him in the pledge and none did.

Now Davis says he won’t join them in joint campaign appearances unless they return the donations that they’ve received from those interest groups — as well as sign on with Davis’ self-created “pledge to protect Social Security,” and promise to run “clean” campaigns.

“Mr. Davis is taking his message to the voters directly door-to-door and on the air while the others have taken a decidedly negative turn with push polls and dark TV advertising,” Langley said.

Kevin Hardwick, the WBEN show host who’ll moderate Sunday’s discussion, called Davis’ refusal to participate in candidate forums “disturbing.”

Hardwick, a political science instructor and past candidate for office himself, said the unwritten rule of campaigning is before you ask people for their votes, you’re supposed to make yourself available to answer their questions.

“If you’re too afraid to go into a debate for fear of saying something stupid, how can we expect you to stand up to the special interests in Washington?” Hardwick said. “If (Davis’) handlers don’t trust him ... perhaps they ought not run him for office.”

Clips of Davis’ comments to media in two prior races for Congress have been used against him by opponents.

Recently, the Powers campaign conducted push polling by phone, and Powers volunteers told voters that Davis would vote to “cut” Social Security if he’s elected.

When the Davis camp objected, Powers’ campaign manager, John Gerken, referred to old statements Davis made in media appearances suggesting the Social Security retirement age might have to be raised or benefits reduced.

Davis issued his own “pledge to protect Social Security” this past May. The pledge says he’d vote against any legislation to privatize, raise the eligibility age or lowered benefits, and also would oppose the grant of benefits to illegal aliens

The candidates forum with Kevin Hardwick will air from 10:30 a.m. to noon Sunday on WBEN-AM 930.

The debate at Geneseo will begin at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday. Organizers said the National Public Radio affiliates in Buffalo and Rochester, wbfo-FM 88.7 and WXXI-AM 1330, will replay the session as regular programming.

According to debate co-organizer Ben DeGeorge, Independence Party nominee Anthony Fumerelle also will participate. Republican candidate Chris Lee declined the invitation.

Contact reporter Joyce Miles at 439-9222, ext. 6245