Oh Democrats!

Spaghetti Supper.m...

When I walked into the Spaghetti Supper yesterday morning, my eyes widened. I knew this was going to be like shooting fish in a barrel. In my wrap, I covered how the event brings politicians of both parties together. It feature quotes from Deb Moynihan, running for the county legislature in the 19th district, and Bill Magnarelli's brother Tom. Tom Magnarelli captured it the best, "Any kinds of animosities or differences that seem to kind of create a gap seem to melt over a dish of spaghetti."

Moynihan also said that she wanted people to realize she would be as committed as a legislator as she is in everything else. I also talked to her mom who echoed similar sentiments. Moynihan was also looking to use this election to make a name for herself in the political spectrum because she is such an unknown. Later, at the democratic party celebration, I interviewe Lovie Winslow, the democratic candidate from the 19th district. She was still against raising taxes in the county. She also said she expected the democratic party to have multiple victories and take a majority in the county legislature. The 19th district election was portrayed in the media as an election based on race since Winslow is black and Moynihan is white. Supposedly Winslow was going for the black vote while Moynihan was going for the white vote. Winslow said the election was actually more based on the issues than on race.


Back to the Spaghetti Supper. I thought it would be interesting to get a look at the event from outside the political spectrum. A sixth grade teaher and two of her students were selling cookbooks and calendars to help raise money for field trips. One of the kids said they wanted to go on "big field trips" like to Albany. Another lady had a booth set up near the entrance that was trying to raise awareness and money for scholarships for kids to go to school at Our Lady of Pompei.

Right before Joanie Mahoney left, she had time for a quick interview with me. She said that the Spaghetti Supper was great for the politicians to be able to sit next to each other and just have fun and it was good for the community to help raise money for the church. She said the politicians will continue to come to Our Lady of Pompei on election day because it is such a tradition. There are other events throughout the area, but this is the one to which everyone goes. Mahoney also discussed that she has been campaigning as if she has been down in the polls and that the poll in the Post-Standard is misleading. She said she still needs her voters to come out. Mahoney, after hesitating a bit to think, said that she responded to Magnarelli's negative ads by staying positive and focusing on the issues. She wanted people to know the negative ads were out there because she believed if they were left unchallenged, people would think they were true.

Later on in the night I went to the Democratic party celebration. There were few people there at the beginning. Diane Dwire, the Chairwoman of the Onondaga County Democrat Committee, said she was excited to see the results of the party's hard work. "Everybody put there whole heart and soul into it," Dwire said. She expected multiple successes for the party especially in some of the towns in Onondaga County. Dwire also said that the vacancy left by Pirro at the county executive position is the reason why their has been so many debates and discussions about the issues.

Later I briefly talked with Lovie Winslow, as mentioned above, and Kathleen Joy, the Onondaga County Legislator At-Large candidate. Finally, about 15-20 minutes after Mahoney gave her victory speech, Magnarelli came in and conceded. He is still going to be a state assemblyman. One main theme from his speech and introduction was the Albany effect in elections. This is describing the lack of success that state politicians working in Albany have while running for local offices. Magnarelli said he was looking forward to working with Mahoney in the future.

Before I left, I talked with District Attorney candidate Tina Bennett who gave the quote of the night. In response to me asking if William Fitzpatrick's financial problems helped her in the polls, she responded, "Definitely because people don't like corrupt politicians now do they?" I proceeded to ask if she is saying Fitzpatrick is one she said no but said that constituants don't want politicians who act like politicians.