Written on Friday, November 21st, 2008 at 6:34am by Alan Bedenko | 8 Comments

Another Reason Why Brian Higgins Should be Senator

The Buffalo News makes the case.

About the only Western New Yorker to receive even a passing glance in the state’s press is Buffalo’s U. S. Rep. Brian Higgins. And, maybe, Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown, if only because he is known to be an old friend of Paterson’s from the days both served in the State Senate.

The name of Rep. Louise Slaughter of Fairport also belongs in the mix — unless there’s a feeling she’s too near the end of her career or that she, or her constituents, wouldn’t want to give up her powerful spot as chairwoman of the House Rules Committee.

We won’t pick a favorite here, at this stage of the speculation. We will encourage the governor to remember that so many of the state’s most powerful offices — including his own, the leadership of both houses of the Legislature and the state’s other U. S. Senate seat — are held by people who hail from New York City and its immediate environs.

Naming a new senator who could bring real Western New York knowledge and feelings to the job — and have a two-year head-start on running for statewide election against rivals that will almost certainly be from downstate — could do a lot for the area’s political pull. And, unlike so many other favors we seek, it won’t cost state taxpayers a dime.

Slaughter’s chairmanship of the Rules Committee is too clout-filled to abandon. Byron Brown is politically weak – in local Buffalo elections, his little faction of Caseyistas has failed to make any headway in contested races outside the east side. Not for nothing did the county chair specifically and explicitly recommend Higgins.

My only question is whether Higgins could build a statewide following to get re-elected. If anyone from upstate or WNY could, it is he.

(Cartoon courtesy of Marquil @ Empirewire.com)

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8 Comments

  1. Mike In WNY says:
    November 21, 2008 at 10:18 am

    Brian Higgins, the biggest scammer in local government. I guess that would put him at the head of the list for most WNYers.

  2. Hap Klein says:
    November 21, 2008 at 10:20 am

    In this age we have witnessed the election of a stream of inept ideologues who don’t believe in government and generally demonstrate an inability to produce anything but inept fumbling of public policy.

    On the other hand we have bright stars like Brian Higgins who not only believe in government but have demonstrated a clear abilityty to make government structure produce good results for their constituents. Of all the dozens of politicians I have listened to and watched Brian always has a good grasp of the subject of using the existing structures to produce desireable results.

    Not just results either. He can cite chapter and verse of where to go and who to seek as a partner in his quest for ensuring favorable results.

    But I fear that he faces impassible political barriers from downstate in this matter. Just Andrew Cuomo alone could scuttle the possibility.

  3. Mike In WNY says:
    November 21, 2008 at 10:35 am

    we have bright stars like Brian Higgins who not only believe in government but have demonstrated a clear abilityty to make government structure produce good results for their constituents.

    What you call good results, I call PORK! Higgins has perfected his self-serving role as a purveyor of pork. Increased government control of our money and spending decisions is not producing good results. Check the stock market, unemployment rate, and other economic indicators. That is what Brian Higgins, and his ilk, are good at producing.

  4. Bill Altreuter says:
    November 21, 2008 at 10:46 am

    I like Higgins– he seems intelligent, and he has a good handle on what the area’s strengths and needs consist of. He is, however, a member of an over-represented constituency in New York politics. Upstate New York has fewer people than the five boroughs of New York City, Long Island and the counties of Westchester, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess (a decent working definition of “Downstate”). There are 3.2 million African-Americans in the state– roughly half the population of “Upstate” total. Add Hispanics to the mix and it becomes apparent that minorities are significantly under-represented in elected office.

    I don’t believe that race should be a definitive criteria for office, but certainly it should be taken into account. I don’t believe that sex should be a definitive critera either, but it seems to me that women are under-represented too. (Judy Kaye’s retirement leaves three women on the Court of Appeals. HRC’s departure means that Judges Ciparick, Graffeo and Read are the only women who will hold state-wide office).

    Regional parochialism shouldn’t be the basis for an appointment to fill the Senate seat vacated by an HRC cabinet appointment. We are a diverse state, and our Senate delegation ought to reflect that diversity. Western New York will benefit more if our present House delegation, which includes the chair of the Rules Committee, remains intact.

  5. Russell says:
    November 21, 2008 at 1:28 pm

    Hap, I don’t think Higgins’ record shows he believes in government. I think quite the opposite is true and that’s his strength and what has made him popular among his constituents. He’s taken on government’s failures and where government structures have failed to produce good results for his constituents. His use of the bully pulpit, fights with governmental authorities and boards and even taking on his colleagues are where he’s served this area best. He doesn’t sit back and allow government to just do it’s thing believing it serves the best interests of his constituents. He fights it, pokes it, prods it and forces it to act differently than it wants to.

  6. The Wizard Jr says:
    November 21, 2008 at 1:57 pm

    Forget Higgins. TOM REYNOLDS FOR SENATE 2010!!!!!!!!

  7. Mike In WNY says:
    November 21, 2008 at 5:36 pm

    Russell, if you are using the Power Authority as an example of the “good” Higgins does, you are basing your opinion on a farce. Higgins caved in to political pressure (Pataki & Slaughter) to settle with the Power Authority for a mere pittance for us while allowing $100’s of millions to go to special interests, including NYS, each year. That doesn’t even take in to account that we support virtually every other inefficient power project in the State and have locked in the Power Authorities autonomy for another 50 years.

    Higgins was allowed to play the good guy as long as he didn’t rock the boat too much. He willingly played the game and the people are the losers.

 

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