| | A local Congressional Candidate Buys Gas for Voters
Area residents fill 'er up on candidate Davis' dime
Jill Terreri and Terricha Bradley
Staff writers
Hundreds of cars in line for cheap gas slowed traffic in Greece in what many called a political stunt on Thursday.
The gas was subsidized by Democratic Congressional candidate and multimillionaire Jack Davis, and the campaign expected to pay for all of the 10,000 gallons that were stored in underground tanks at the Sunoco station at Long Pond Road and Ridgeway Avenue.
"We are here because I believe gasoline should help America run; gas prices should not be running America," Davis said. "This (day) exceeded my expectations."
About 700 customers, who waited about two hours in line, were charged $1.50 a gallon, and Davis picked up the difference between that price and Thursday's regular price of $4.29 per gallon, or about $27,900, from noon to 4 p.m.
Davis set the price at $1.50 per gallon because he said that was the price at the time President Bush took office.
For all the cynicism coming out of the campaigns of Davis' competitors, the move seemed to change the minds of some Rochester-area residents who took advantage of the deal.
Jessica Fey and Nino Reyome of Churchville ran out of gas while waiting in line.
Davis and campaign staffers pushed the pair's Pontiac Trans Sport minivan to a gas pump.
"My mom called me and said, 'Go get gas!'" said Reyome, 27, as they filled up. "For Davis to do it out of his pocket shows what kind of man he is. He's got my vote all day and every day."
Chili resident Jackie Cripps, 50, saw the news about the cheap gas on television, got dressed and put her 9-year-old son Andy in her Dodge Caravan to drive to Greece.
Lately, Cripps pays $75 to fill her tank. On Thursday, her bill was $21.
"This may influence the way I vote. It's a nice thing to do when we need it most because we drive more during the summer," Cripps said. Cripps lives in a different Congressional district, however.
Davis is running in the 26th District in a field of two other Democrats, Iraq War veteran Jon Powers and lawyer Alice Kryzan, and Republican Chris Lee.
Democrat Kathy Konst announced Thursday she would leave the Congressional race and run for State Senate in the 59th District, now held by Republican Dale Volker.
While filling up gas tanks, campaign staffers handed drivers volunteer cards to fill out if they wanted to get involved with Davis' campaign.
Chief Merritt Rahn of the Greece Police Department said the event was "going very smoothly."
"We were initially concerned because of the busy intersection, and I haven't heard of any complaints on traffic. It was worth the wait," he said.
The station was chosen because of its location in the town — busy but not too busy — and its independent ownership, said Davis Campaign Manager Luke Vaughn.
With the assistance of the chief, Special Police, which is an all-volunteer division of the town's force, directed traffic and used town vehicles.
The event was planned with the town in a few meetings, which were attended by the town's paid staff, said Jeff McCann, deputy town supervisor.
The town can't charge individuals or groups for police services, McCann said, adding that the event didn't cost taxpayers much money.
Thursday's event didn't have to do with charges from the Powers campaign that Davis owns millions in oil stocks, Vaughn said.
"No, because Jon Powers has oil holdings of his own," Vaughn said. "This is about taking care of consumers, which Jack Davis will do in Congress every day."
The Powers campaign has calculated that Davis owns $35 million in oil stocks, but the Davis campaign said that figure is off, and the true figure is $7 million.
The discrepancy occurs because candidates, in their federally required personal financial disclosure forms, check boxes that are labeled with ranges of amounts, such as $1 million to $5 million, Vaughn said.
Powers' holdings in oil companies are much smaller, according to his disclosure.
"It doesn't change (Davis') incredible investment in the industry," said Powers' spokeswoman, Victoria Dillon.
Thursday's event was not the first of its kind. The same stunt was executed in May in Illinois by Democratic candidate Dan Seals, who is also seeking a House seat.
Davis said gas prices are high because of special interests and lobbyists for oil companies. Davis is self-financing his campaign and is committed to spending $3 million on the race.
Davis' opponents on both sides of the aisle attacked Thursday's event.
"Like all western New Yorkers, Chris believes record-high gas prices are a serious issue that demands real bipartisan solutions, not slogans or political gimmicks," said Nick Langworthy, campaign manager for Lee.
Kryzan said a national energy policy is needed. "It's going to take more than a publicity stunt to solve the real problems that every day people are facing in western New York as a result of high gas prices," she said in a statement.
Powers' campaign manager, John Gerken, said Davis was "trying to buy votes."
"He claims he has no intention of buying this election, but today proved he is a hypocrite," Gerken said. What do you guys think about this? Is he making a good political point or just buying votes?
How about the people that ran out of gas in line  Should they even been allowed to vote  |
07-11-2008, 12:05 PM
