SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The 25th congressional district stretches from Onondaga County west through the northern tip of Cayuga County, across all of Wayne County and into the eastern portion of Monroe County.
Republican committee members in Onondaga County had the first crack at selecting a candidate and went overwhelmingly for their "favorite son" contender, former county legislature chairman Dale Sweetland.
When the votes were tallied, Sweetland had collected 94 percent of the committee vote, compared to five percent for his nearest competitor, state assemblyman Robert Oaks. That leaves three more committee votes to go.
“They're going to have their nominating conventions between May 8th and May 14th. So, we can get the candidate out there campaigning,” said John DeSpirito, Onondaga County Republican Chairman.
But the vote in Onondaga County, in fact, already gives Sweetland a majority of the district wide vote. Under a weighted system, where Onondaga County controls 65 percent of the endorsement, Thursday night's ballot translates into Sweetland already having a 61 percent total across the 25th.
It's nearing decision time for a state assemblyman from Wayne County. Our Bill carey said the decision by Robert Oaks could determine whether the republican party can move forward with a congressional campaign, or will be forced to hunker down for a long primary battle.
In other words, there is no way assemblyman Oaks, from Wayne County, can win, but he has not ruled out a primary and could use positive votes elsewhere to launch a challenge.
“All of us will look at what happens and then reassess at each step along the way, but certainly this convention in Onondaga County is the first step along the way,” said Oaks.
Party leaders in Onondaga County are still hoping to avoid an intra-party battle.
“I don't expect one, no. It's a very important seat, the 25th congressional district. We have the support from the republicans. We have good numbers. We have to get our candidate out there in the other three counties,” said DeSpirito.
Sweetland said he is going to work now on winning support in Wayne, Cayuga and Monroe counties.
The likely democratic candidate in the race in the 25th district is Dan Maffei, who narrowly lost to incumbent James Walsh in 2006. A spokesman for Maffei says the candidate is focusing on issues and, quoting now It's the issues that matter, not who Dan Maffei is running against.