JOHN MARIANI - The Post Standard
POLITICAL NOTEBOOK
Labor Day is to politics what the day after Thanksgiving is to holiday shopping - a convenient point to begin the official season, even if some politicians and shoppers start earlier.
This Labor Day found several Onondaga County office seekers at a traditional campaign starting line, the annual union festivities at the state fair.
Most said they came to honor the community's working men and women. Most also admitted they wanted either to thank them for their support or drum up a little backing.
All, it seemed, had some kind of personal connection with the labor movement.
Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll said he belonged to Painters Local 31 in bygone days. Onondaga County Legislator Jim Corbett, R-Camillus, remains active in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Howie Hawkins, Driscoll's Green rival for mayor, marched with fellow members of Teamsters Local 317.
Julio Urrutia, a Democrat seeking the 11th District county Legislature seat, had no such connection but said he wished he did. Urrutia, a lawyer, said his father worked 25 years in a factory where employees could get fired for even whispering "union."
Rolling it out
Republican Joanie Mahoney, meeting Wednesday with Post-Standard editors and reporters, said she's ready to shift her Syracuse mayoral campaign into high gear. She saved money and tended grass roots while waiting until Labor Day, she said. Now, she thinks people are ready to pay attention.
Driscoll, meanwhile, has put in some personal appearances, including a picnic for military veterans Wednesday put on by the Sunnycrest Park Association. Among the veterans was Republican Bruce McDaniels, candidate for 5th District councilor, who grilled and served burgers, dogs and sausage.
Primary responsibility
For candidates in Tuesday's primaries, Labor Day provided one more chance to do what they've been doing for weeks - knock on doors to solicit votes.
But listen for Pat Hogan, challenging Marty Masterpole for the Democratic nomination for 2nd District councilor, to roll out a radio ad this week in which he is endorsed by Jazz Fest impresario Frank Malfitano.
Masterpole, meanwhile, is treating invited district Democrats to ice cream at 7 p.m. today at Aunt Josie's stand on North Salina Street.
Besides door knocking, 4th District Democrats Tom Seals, Steve Coker and Khalid Bey are prepping for candidate forums at 7 p.m. today at the Westcott Community Center, 7 p.m. Friday at the Everson Museum of Art and 5 p.m. Sunday at the Central Village Youth Center.
Banner banter
We've gotten a bunch of calls about whether it's proper for Driscoll's camp to hang a banner stretching across South Salina Street near Clinton Square, plugging his campaign.
Space over the street is available for rent from Allied Sign Co. Inc. Mike Pfohl, owner of Allied Sign, said Driscoll's people bought the banner from him and rented the space, and that his company got a permit from the city before it installed the sign at the end of last week.
Most of his overhead sign business comes from festival promoters and the like, but politicians also use it, Pfohl said. Why was Driscoll's sign more noticeable? "I think he just got an earlier jump than most," Pfohl said.
Political writer John Mariani can be reached at 470-3105 and at jmariani@syracuse.com
Posted by syracusegreens at September 8, 2005 03:36 AM