Dale Sweetland
CENTRAL NEW YORK -- State assemblyman Robert Oaks made the journey from Wayne County to Syracuse to make it official.
“I've decided to withdraw from the 25th congressional district race,” Oaks said.
Oaks had been prepared to challenge former Onondaga County Legislature Chairman Dale Sweetland for the republican nomination, but decided against continuing the effort.
The strongest signal for Oaks, as he considered a primary challenge, was a strong vote in favor of Sweetland by the Onondaga County GOP committee just last week. At that meeting, Sweetland collected 94 percent of the committee vote, giving him an insurmountable lead in a four county race for the party endorsement. The only option was a primary challenge, which Oaks rejected.
The race for Congress in the 25th District appears to be settling into a two-way contest. News 10 Now's Bill Carey says there's been little drama over the democratic nomination and now the republicans seem to be settling on a single candidate.
“In my estimation, we were not going to have the best chance as the republican party of succeeding in the fall if we had that primary,” Oaks said.
Sweetland now appears to be on his way to a November showdown with democrat Dan Maffei.
“I'm not really focused on the republican process, as interesting as it might seem. I have to stay focused on the challenges that this district faces -- preparing to represent it and making sure that good jobs stay here in Central New York,” said Maffei.
Sweetland is calling for a campaign on issues.
“I see people at the gas pump, counting cash to figure out whether they have enough money to fill the car with gas. I see people in the grocery store that are checking prices that they never checked before. And I see people wondering whether or not they're going to get laid off and what the economy's really going to do,” Sweetland said.
Sweetland must now get busy raising money trying to overcome a huge edge for the democrat.
“I believe that the democratic hierarchy in Washington believes they can buy this election. But, you know what? They're going to find out that that's not true,” Sweetland said.
“It's not about the fundraising, it's really about who addresses the issues better,” said Maffei.
The debate will go on for a little over six months.
There are still two other republicans who have said they would seek the 25th District congressional nomination. Mark-Paul Serafin and David Gay received a combined total of less than one percent of last week's committee vote. They would need to meet tough signature collection requirements to force a primary.
Robert Oaks
Date: Monday, May 5, 2008
Contact: Travis Glazier at (315) 558-3271
SWEETLAND ENDORSED BY WALSH, OAKS GOP UNIFIED, DETERMINED TO WIN NY-25
(Syracuse, NY) - Congressional Candidate Dale Sweetland (R - Fabius) was joined this morning in Clinton Square in Downtown Syracuse by retiring Congressman Jim Walsh and New York State Assemblyman Bob Oaks, who both endorsed his candidacy today.
"Over the past month of competing for the Republican designation, I have seen Dale Sweetland on a nearly daily basis. I am convinced that Dale has the desire and the combination of experience as an elected official and in private business to represent our area well in Washington," said Oaks. "Now is the time to unify around one candidate and make sure Dale wins this race. I encourage all those who supported me and others throughout the 25th Congressional District to join me in supporting Dale Sweetland for Congress," concluded Oaks.
"It's a pleasure to be able to endorse my friend Dale Sweetland this morning, only a few short days after the Onondaga County Republican Party's nominating Convention," said Walsh. "I am confident he will represent our party well and keep this district in good hands." Walsh added, "I would also like to thank Bob Oaks, who has been an outstanding partner to work with in Wayne County. He is a gentleman in every sense of the word and I know he will be an asset to Dale during this campaign and when he takes office." Walsh continued, "Now that Onondaga County voted almost unanimously and the Wayne County Candidate has endorsed Dale, the party designation is virtually assured and the real work of reaching the voters of Onondaga, Cayuga, Wayne and Monroe Counties can begin."
Sweetland said, "I am humbled by and deeply appreciative of the endorsements of Congressman Walsh and Assemblyman Oaks. Jim Walsh has represented us in Washington, D.C. for 20 years with honor and integrity, always doing a tremendous job of bringing federal resources back to Central and Western New York. His career in the United States Congress and on the Syracuse Common Council are a model for those of us who aspire to public service. And I'd like to thank Assemblyman Oaks for the way he handled the run-up to the nomination. He is an outstanding Assemblyman, a great representative for Wayne County, and I look forward to working with him much more in the years to come."