This one you can take to the bank. David Koon will run -- but next year, for State Senate, challenging six-term incumbent Republican Jim Alesi in the 55th Senatorial District.
Supplement 6/4/2007:
Apparently Koon called Alesi some time last week to tell him of this personally.
This makes so much more sense for David Koon, and the Democratic Party, than Koon running for Monroe County Executive.
Koon has been a popular vote-getter in what was a Republican Assembly seat (Koon's predecessor was Alesi himself). Running such a candidate for State Senate is a well- conceived component of the state Democratic Party's push to take the Senate in 2008. It's hard to think of a Democrat better suited to do the job in the 55th District than Koon.
And with two Albany insiders running against each other, any potential issue of a "what happens in Albany stays in Albany" character really will stay in Albany and isn't likely to to emerge in the campaign.
Jim Alesi will be difficult to beat, even with the money we can expect the state Democratic Senatorial Committee to devote to this race. The perenially popular Alesi has been a ubiquitous presence in his district -- and that's between campaigns, with no opponent in sight for the next one. Now he'll ramp it up.
Also, Alesi has been one of the top vote getters in the State Senate as a whole. We believe he has been elected with the biggest majority of any Republican State Senator in New York.
Therefore this analysis: Koon as the candidate gets the Democrats into this race for real. But it's a great leap from that to actually topping Jim Alesi in November 2008.
Friday, June 1, 2007
It's Koon After All -- For State Senate!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Then Again, Maybe it's Not Koon
The idea of a David Koon campaign for Monroe County Executive may be fading into oblivion.
Mustard Street's sources tell us that in recent weeks the putative candidate was rebuffed twice, first by Democratic Chairman Joe Morelle when Koon asked for money for a campaign; then by Mayor Bob Duffy when Koon asked for funds to do a poll.
The smart money knows the score.
Word is that the name on the ballot for the Democrats might even be a junior County Legislator. But right now, anything could happen. Anything, that is, besides beating Maggie Brooks in November.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
What Happens in Albany ...
... may not necessarily stay in Albany much longer.
This, at least, is the speculation of some Republicans about a looming prospect for David Koon that could be more unpleasant than running as his party's sacrificial lamb against Maggie Brooks this year.
East Rochester Republicans have taken a real burn to Koon running his son Jason as Democratic candidate against popular incumbent Mayor David Bonacchi. Apparently Bonacchi delivered a blistering stemwinder at a GOP fundraiser earlier this week, denouncing the elder Koon for asking Bonacchi to help out Jason and introduce him around town when Jason moved to East Rochester last year, which Bonacchi did, only to run him against Bonacchi now.
With the passion of a man who believes himself wronged by someone he considered a friend, Bonacchi, if the recounting of his speech is any indication, appears ready to take the gloves off, and his GOP compatriots in East Rochester seem to be in the same frame of mind.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
It's Koon
David Koon will be the Democratic candidate for Monroe County Executive this year.
This was the price Democratic Chairman Joe Morelle extracted from Koon in exchange for full funding and support for Koon's son, Jason, to run for Mayor of East Rochester, according to a source close to the situation. Koon had brought his son to a recent East Rochester Village Board meeting to see what village trustees do.
Jason Koon will be running against popular incumbent Mayor David Bonnacchi, a bodacious campaigner by all accounts. With the resources of Democratic headquarters behind Jason, his race for East Rochester Mayor promises to be a lot more interesting than dad's race against Maggie Brooks.
