SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A typical day for a mayor. A groundbreaking.
“I know the sun is shining and the skyline is about to change,” said Matt Driscoll.
But just hours before, Matt Driscoll had done his share of changing the political landscape. After weeks of deliberation, he decided he would not run for a congressional seat being vacated by republican James Walsh. Two reasons were cited: time away from home during a long campaign and concerns about dividing the Democratic Party.
“And I know that while people say, it's good for the process, primaries, in my view, should be avoided at all cost. And that was something that I did not want to do at the end of the day. I've spent 25 years as a member of the Democratic Party and I did not want to be viewed in that light,” said Driscoll.
Driscoll said with his decision made, his sole focus can be on running the city until his term ends in 2009.
Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll has announced he will not seek the 25th congressional seat vacated by the retiring James Walsh. Driscoll says he made the decision after assessing the political landscape, and talking with family and supporters.
“I want to finish out here, because I think there's a lot of great things going on. We've worked very hard and all of those things are coming to fruition now,” said Driscoll.
And the reaction from Dan Maffei, the man Driscoll would have faced in any primary. Is he happy that the mayor has decided not to run?
“Yes,” said Maffei.
While relieved that an intra-party battle has been avoided, Maffei claims the prospect of a primary fight had never diverted his attention from the real battle in November.
“Before the mayor made his announcement, we were running a campaign on economic development, bringing jobs back to Syracuse, particularly getting young people to stay. Better health care. And bringing the troops home from Iraq. And we're going to run the same campaign now, afterwards,” said Maffei.
Driscoll, facing term limits at city hall, said this is not an end to his political career.
“Look, I've got 22 months left to go. I'm still a relatively young man and who knows what the future will bring,” said Driscoll.
For now, the only thing he said he's ruling out is a run for Congress this year.
Republicans have yet to decide on their candidate in the race for the 25th congressional district seat. Former State Fair Director Peter Cappuccilli and Randy Wolken, head of the local Manufacturers Association, have both announced their candidacies. Party committees in the district's four counties are due to begin their deliberation on an endorsement next month.