2008 New York's 29th congressional district election
New York's 29th congressional district
March to the Primaries
Two-term incumbent Randy Kuhl (R) had been elected to Congress with 52% of the popular vote over Democratic candidate Eric Massa in a two-way race in 2006. In March 2006, citing his frustration with actions at the in-patient mental health care hospital at the Canandaigua VA center, former Democratic candidate, and a long-time friend of 2004 presidential candidate General Wesley Clark, Eric J.J. Massa filed to run as the Democratic candidate again in 2008. In May 2007, Pittsford businessman David Nachbar, a senior vice-president of Bausch & Lomb, also announced his candidacy as a Democratic candidate for the same seat.
As of a post on April 18th from Massa on DailyKos, the DCCC placed a requirement on their support for any candidate relied upon that candidate having $300K cash-on-hand by the end of the second quarter 2007 (June 30th).
In August 2007, Nachbar announced that he was withdrawing from the race, with news reports stating that a letter to supporters suggest his role as Senior VP of Human Resources for Bausch & Lomb during a buyout via hedge fund Warburg Pinkus rendered him unable to campaign effectively. Prior to Nachbar's announcement, Massa's campaign announced he had received all of the county endorsements of the 29th in a press release, but had yet to secure the Monroe Democratic Committee endorsement.
Notable Visits
As of June 15th, 2007, Major General John Batiste, former Commander of the United States Army's First Infantry Division, announced his formal endorsement of Eric Massa.
Horse Race Metrics
At present, there have been no polling in this District, though the Lurita Doan scandal points out that some Republican stategists feel that the 29th is a district in which they are vulnerable.
Fundraising
Fundraising metrics as of July 15th, 2007:
- Randy Kuhl with $105K cash on hand with $9K in debt Kuhl FEC Jul filing
- Eric Massa with $153K cash on hand with $78K in debt and loans (a $10K personal loan and $27K debt to a NY law firm) Massa FEC Jul filing
- David Nachbar with $202K cash on hand with a personal loan of $200K Nachbar FEC Jul filing
Fundraising metrics as of April 15th, 2007:
- Randy Kuhl with $103K cash on hand, with $17K in debt (owed primarily to a DC fundraising consulting firm) Kuhl FEC Apr filing
- Eric Massa with $1700 cash on hand with $75K in debt and loans (a $10K personal loan and $32K debt to a NY law firm) Massa FEC Apr filing
- David Nachbar has yet to file any information on his campaign finances Nachbar Committee FEC filing
Endorsements
- As of August 2007, Eric Massa has secured the Democratic Committee endorsements of the Ontario, Steuben, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Yates, Chemung and Schuyler County Democratic Committees.
- Massa has also secured the endorsements of Pittsford, Penfield, Mendon, Rush, Gates, Henrietta, Brighton, Chili and Perinton Democratic Town Committees (the nine towns that make up Monroe County)
- At present, the Monroe County Committee has yet to endorse a primary candidate.
Candidates
Randy Kuhl
Congressman Kuhl's profile can be found via the link.
Eric Massa
Eric Massa was the Democratic nominee in 2006. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and went on to serve in the Navy for 24 years. He eventually served as aide to former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, General Wesley Clark. Near the end of his Navy career he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a disease he was able to survive. A former Republican, he claims he left his party over the issue of the Iraq War and campaigned in New Hampshire during the campaign of his former-boss, Wesley Clark's, failed presidential bid.
During the 2006 campaign, Massa positioned himself as strongly opposed to the Iraq war and unrestricted "free trade," favoring instead "fair trade". Other issues in his platform included expanding farm aid programs, as well as bringing homeland security money to the 29th District. Massa is also active in Band of Brothers/Veterans for a Secure America whose goal is to help veterans who are running for Congress as Democrats.
Massa has recently worked as a "business consultant" for Strategic Insight, a defense consulting firm in Alexandra, Virginia. Massa, during a press conference in June, 2007, stated that he has since "curtailed all other activities in April (2007) when he became an active candidate".
Massa lives in Corning, New York with his wife Beverly, daughter Alexandra and son Justin. His eldest son Sean lives in California.
David Nachbar
From the Bausch & Lomb website: David Nachbar is Bausch & Lomb senior vice president − Human Resources. He was named to this post in October 2002.
Mr. Nachbar joined Bausch & Lomb from The St. Paul Companies, Inc., where he was senior vice president - Human Resources. Previously, he was vice president - Human Resources and chief of staff - Asia for Citibank N.A. He also held Human Resources posts with PepsiCo and Time Warner Inc. In 1996, Nachbar ran for New York State Senate on the Democratic ticket and was unsuccessful.
Mr. Nachbar received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, in 1984.