A re-run of the race for a Southern Tier congressional district brought the Democratic candidate to Western New York for a week-long push. On Sunday, Tracy Mitrano was in Fredonia.
Mitrano lost to Rep. Tom Reid two years ago, but has been campaigning steadily for another race this year. The two are back at it, across the 11-county district, predominantly rural and poor. These are very different major party candidates, a Corning businessman first elected in 2010 and a highly credentialed cybersecurity expert born to a family that owned a Rochester bar.
Mitrano was in Fredonia's leafy Barker Commons Park, speaking from an old-fashioned bandstand, just after some Fredonia State students finished music rehearsal. She began her appearance with praise for Suprme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
"The issues get more intent by the moment. The passing of Justice Ginsburg reminds us of the significance of this election, if you haven't already caught it. We must keep our heads and we must be forthright and strong, as Justice Ginsburg would want us to be," she said.
Mitrano said the district needs education and economic development, as major employers have continued to close. Reed's Corning base has been doing well because of Corning Glass, is adding workers in high-tech products like syringes for COVID vaccines.
The event drew a fairly small crowd. Most made it clear, like David Tiffany that they believe Reed has to go.
"He's gonna be permanently in the minority in the House of Representatives. The House is going to go even more Democratic nationwide in November and he's not going to be able to bring to this district the kind of financial support that we need if he was in the majority," Tiffany said.
