Jack Davis (industrialist): Difference between revisions
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'''John R. "Jack" Davis''' (born [[1933]]) is an [[industrialist]] and [[Democratic Party (US)|Democratic]] [[politician]] from western [[NYS|New York]]. He is also the founder of the Save Jobs Party. |
'''John R. "Jack" Davis''' (born [[1933]]) is an [[industrialist]] and [[Democratic Party (US)|Democratic]] [[politician]] from western [[NYS|New York]]. He is also the founder of the [[Save Jobs Party]]. |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Davis was born in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] and grew up in western New York. He graduated from the [[University of Buffalo]] with a B.S. in Engineering in 1955. A "[[Fighting Dems|fighting Dem]]," Davis writes in his biography that he joined the Marine Corps Reserve while in college. When he graduated, the Korean War was over. Davis said that the [[Marine Corps]] didn’t need his service, and, since he still owed the military three years of active duty service, he joined the [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]].[http://www.lockportjournal.com/siteSearch/apstorysection/local_story_225014150.html] He left with the rank of lieutenant. |
Davis was born in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] and grew up in western New York. He graduated from the [[University of Buffalo]] with a B.S. in Engineering in 1955. A "[[Fighting Dems|fighting Dem]]," Davis writes in his biography that he joined the Marine Corps Reserve while in college. When he graduated, the Korean War was over. Davis said that the [[Marine Corps]] didn’t need his service, and, since he still owed the military three years of active duty service, he joined the [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]]. <ref>[http://www.lockportjournal.com/siteSearch/apstorysection/local_story_225014150.html] He left with the rank of lieutenant. Lockport Journal article</ref> |
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Davis worked as a maintenance engineer for Chevrolet and as a sales engineer at Carborundum, before starting his own company in 1964. It began in his garage; it eventually made him a millionaire.[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/16/nyregion/16davis.html] He still owns the company, I Squared R Element Company, which makes special heating elements for high temperature electric furnaces. It is the only remaining US company that manufactures [[silicon carbide]] heating elements. Davis is married to his third wife, has two children by his second wife, four children by his first wife and 13 grandchildren.<ref> |
Davis worked as a maintenance engineer for Chevrolet and as a sales engineer at Carborundum, before starting his own company in 1964. It began in his garage; it eventually made him a millionaire. <ref> [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/16/nyregion/16davis.html] New York Times article</ref> He still owns the company, I Squared R Element Company, which makes special heating elements for high temperature electric furnaces. It is the only remaining US company that manufactures [[silicon carbide]] heating elements. Davis is married to his third wife, has two children by his second wife, four children by his first wife and 13 grandchildren.<ref>Firsthand knowledge written by his oldest grandchild.</ref> |
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==Decision to leave the Republican Party== |
==Decision to leave the Republican Party== |
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Davis was a self-described "Goldwater Republican" for 50 years. In late 2003, he contributed $2,000 to a Republican fundraiser in Buffalo, attended by Vice President [[Dick Cheney]]. Davis requested to speak with the Vice President about U.S. free trade policies - an issue of serious concern to his company - and Mr. Cheney's staff denied his request.[http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=162542] |
Davis was a self-described "Goldwater Republican" for 50 years. In late 2003, he contributed $2,000 to a Republican fundraiser in Buffalo, attended by Vice President [[Dick Cheney]]. Davis requested to speak with the Vice President about U.S. free trade policies - an issue of serious concern to his company - and Mr. Cheney's staff denied his request. <ref>[http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=162542] Liberty Post article</ref> |
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Due to his position on free trade (Mr. Davis disagrees with Mr. Cheney and the policies supported by the Bush Administration), Mr. Davis was ejected by Cheney staff members from the fundraiser. Davis quit the Republican party a short time after this incident. The Vice President's staff was, subsequently, embarrassed following the release an audio recording on a local radio station of the conversation between Davis and one Cheney staffer.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} |
Due to his position on free trade (Mr. Davis disagrees with Mr. Cheney and the policies supported by the Bush Administration), Mr. Davis was ejected by Cheney staff members from the fundraiser. Davis quit the Republican party a short time after this incident. The Vice President's staff was, subsequently, embarrassed following the release an audio recording on a local radio station of the conversation between Davis and one Cheney staffer.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} |
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Davis' 12-point platform included promises to cancel all free trade agreements, cut pork and deny [[amnesty]] for illegal aliens. |
Davis' 12-point platform included promises to cancel all free trade agreements, cut pork and deny [[amnesty]] for illegal aliens. |
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Some Republicans have questioned Davis's statement that he served as a "[[naval officer ranks|naval officer]]," which implies service in the United States Navy. Davis said he calls himself a "naval officer" because he worked on a ship, not because he was in the Navy. "I ran a navy ship," Davis said. "I was a deck officer. ... I’m proud of my military career."[http://www.lockportjournal.com/siteSearch/apstorysection/local_story_225014150.html] |
Some Republicans have questioned Davis's statement that he served as a "[[naval officer ranks|naval officer]]," which implies service in the United States Navy. Davis said he calls himself a "naval officer" because he worked on a ship, not because he was in the Navy. "I ran a navy ship," Davis said. "I was a deck officer. ... I’m proud of my military career." <ref>[http://www.lockportjournal.com/siteSearch/apstorysection/local_story_225014150.html] Lockport Journal article</ref> |
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Davis was also the candidate of the [[Working Families Party]]. Davis secured the nomination of the [[Independence Party of New York]] after spending over 1 million dollars to defeat little-known attorney Robert Pusateri. Reynolds had received permission to compete for the [[Third party (politics)|minor party's]] endorsement, but declined to do so. Votes from all nominating parties counted towards Davis' total under New York's [[electoral fusion]] rule.[http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060525/1071367.asp] |
Davis was also the candidate of the [[Working Families Party]]. Davis secured the nomination of the [[Independence Party of New York]] after spending over 1 million dollars to defeat little-known attorney Robert Pusateri. Reynolds had received permission to compete for the [[Third party (politics)|minor party's]] endorsement, but declined to do so. Votes from all nominating parties counted towards Davis' total under New York's [[electoral fusion]] rule. <ref>[http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060525/1071367.asp] Buffalo News article</ref> |
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November 7th saw Davis lose the election to incumbent Tom Reynolds by a margin of 52% to 48%. Reynolds had trailed Davis by as much as 15 points in a poll commissioned by the Buffalo News, after questions about Reynolds' handling of the [[Mark Foley scandal]]. Many attributed Reynolds's surge to his role in garnering a major disaster declaration for Western New York following a freak October storm even though the disaster declaration was thirteen days after the storm when the vast majority of the damage had already been repaired. |
November 7th saw Davis lose the election to incumbent Tom Reynolds by a margin of 52% to 48%. Reynolds had trailed Davis by as much as 15 points in a poll commissioned by the Buffalo News, after questions about Reynolds' handling of the [[Mark Foley scandal]]. Many attributed Reynolds's surge to his role in garnering a major disaster declaration for Western New York following a freak October storm even though the disaster declaration was thirteen days after the storm when the vast majority of the damage had already been repaired. |
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==2008 Congressional Campaign== |
==2008 Congressional Campaign== |
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Jack Davis announced his third run for Congress on April 15, 2008 in front of his [[Akron, New York]] factory. He will face veteran [[Jon Powers]] and attorney [[Alice Kryzan]] in the Democratic Primary.<ref>http://www.buffalonews.com/258/story/323901.html</ref> |
Jack Davis announced his third run for Congress on April 15, 2008 in front of his [[Akron, New York]] factory. He will face veteran [[Jon Powers]] and attorney [[Alice Kryzan]] in the Democratic Primary.<ref>http://www.buffalonews.com/258/story/323901.html Buffalo News article</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 21:25, 26 June 2008
John R. "Jack" Davis (born 1933) is an industrialist and Democratic politician from western New York. He is also the founder of the Save Jobs Party.
Biography
Davis was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and grew up in western New York. He graduated from the University of Buffalo with a B.S. in Engineering in 1955. A "fighting Dem," Davis writes in his biography that he joined the Marine Corps Reserve while in college. When he graduated, the Korean War was over. Davis said that the Marine Corps didn’t need his service, and, since he still owed the military three years of active duty service, he joined the Coast Guard. [1]
Davis worked as a maintenance engineer for Chevrolet and as a sales engineer at Carborundum, before starting his own company in 1964. It began in his garage; it eventually made him a millionaire. [2] He still owns the company, I Squared R Element Company, which makes special heating elements for high temperature electric furnaces. It is the only remaining US company that manufactures silicon carbide heating elements. Davis is married to his third wife, has two children by his second wife, four children by his first wife and 13 grandchildren.[3]
Decision to leave the Republican Party
Davis was a self-described "Goldwater Republican" for 50 years. In late 2003, he contributed $2,000 to a Republican fundraiser in Buffalo, attended by Vice President Dick Cheney. Davis requested to speak with the Vice President about U.S. free trade policies - an issue of serious concern to his company - and Mr. Cheney's staff denied his request. [4]
Due to his position on free trade (Mr. Davis disagrees with Mr. Cheney and the policies supported by the Bush Administration), Mr. Davis was ejected by Cheney staff members from the fundraiser. Davis quit the Republican party a short time after this incident. The Vice President's staff was, subsequently, embarrassed following the release an audio recording on a local radio station of the conversation between Davis and one Cheney staffer.[citation needed]
2004 Congressional campaign
In 2004, Davis officially entered politics, running as a Democrat for the U.S. Congress from the 26th District of New York. He ran against incumbent Representative Tom Reynolds, a Republican, who was considered unbeatable. Davis doubled his original commitment to the race, pouring a total of $1.2 million dollars of personal money into his campaign. Reynolds was forced to begin running campaign ads for the first time since his election in 1998.
On election day, Reynolds won, 56% to 44%; in contrast, he won the 2002 election 75% to 25% against the Democratic challenger. Davis was outspent by over $1 million in this Republican-leaning district.
After the election, Davis was fined for a violation of campaign finance reporting laws for failing to file reports in a timely manner.
Save Jobs Party
Following his defeat in 2004, Davis continued his political activism by forming his own political party, the Save Jobs Party. While Republicans accused him of using the party merely as a springboard for a 2006 rematch, Davis sponsored more than a dozen candidates for public office in races across Western New York.
2006 Congressional campaign
In 2006, Davis again ran for the 26th district Congressional seat, against Tom Reynolds. Since no other Democrat chose to run in the September 12, 2006 primary, Davis was the Democratic nominee.
Davis' 12-point platform included promises to cancel all free trade agreements, cut pork and deny amnesty for illegal aliens.
Some Republicans have questioned Davis's statement that he served as a "naval officer," which implies service in the United States Navy. Davis said he calls himself a "naval officer" because he worked on a ship, not because he was in the Navy. "I ran a navy ship," Davis said. "I was a deck officer. ... I’m proud of my military career." [5]
Davis was also the candidate of the Working Families Party. Davis secured the nomination of the Independence Party of New York after spending over 1 million dollars to defeat little-known attorney Robert Pusateri. Reynolds had received permission to compete for the minor party's endorsement, but declined to do so. Votes from all nominating parties counted towards Davis' total under New York's electoral fusion rule. [6]
November 7th saw Davis lose the election to incumbent Tom Reynolds by a margin of 52% to 48%. Reynolds had trailed Davis by as much as 15 points in a poll commissioned by the Buffalo News, after questions about Reynolds' handling of the Mark Foley scandal. Many attributed Reynolds's surge to his role in garnering a major disaster declaration for Western New York following a freak October storm even though the disaster declaration was thirteen days after the storm when the vast majority of the damage had already been repaired.
2008 Congressional Campaign
Jack Davis announced his third run for Congress on April 15, 2008 in front of his Akron, New York factory. He will face veteran Jon Powers and attorney Alice Kryzan in the Democratic Primary.[7]
References
- ^ [1] He left with the rank of lieutenant. Lockport Journal article
- ^ [2] New York Times article
- ^ Firsthand knowledge written by his oldest grandchild.
- ^ [3] Liberty Post article
- ^ [4] Lockport Journal article
- ^ [5] Buffalo News article
- ^ http://www.buffalonews.com/258/story/323901.html Buffalo News article