WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Having swept into office in a Democratic wave two years ago, there was little doubt Michael Arcuri would run again. Although the former Oneida County D.A. said he had to give it some serious thought.
“The one thing that no one ever tells you about, I think the most difficult part of this job, without a doubt, for me is being away from home. You know, I have three children. I miss being home. I miss being in the district. I miss seeing my family all week long,” said Arcuri.
And, for a time, it seemed Arcuri might be given a pass by Republicans, who might focus their efforts on districts considered easier to win. But, a Utica area businessman, Richard Hanna, stepped forward to carry the Republican standard.
“An independent businessman. I'm a practical man. I've not lived in politics. I'm interested in solutions. I'm interested in seeing this community grow again and prosper again. And I'm interested in not all the demagoguery winner take all kind of inside baseball politics that you see,” Hanna said.
November will bring with it a round of federal elections. Much of the attention, for months, has been focused on the race for the White House. But there will also be elections determining the control of Congress.One of the biggest battlegrounds in 2006 was Central New York's 24th Congressional District. News 10 Now's Bill Carey takes a look at the two men who will be facing off for that house seat this year.
Both men see the same issues dominating the race, although from very different perspectives.
For Hanna, the economy and energy take center stage. He said Congress, and the current incumbent, have not done enough to move toward increased exploration and drilling of America's own oil, while studying new forms of energy.
“Anyone can tell you what's wrong. Anyone could have seen this coming. But, yet, we have not had the kinds of solutions in place that we should have,” said Hanna.
For Arcuri, the number one issue remains the war in Iraq and the drive to bring it to an end.
“I think the war is the thing that affects everything else. I mean, I think the reason our economy is in the position it is, is because of the amount of money that we're spending in Iraq. The huge deficits we're building up,” Arcuri said.
Arcuri was one of a batch of new Democrats elected to Congress in 2006. At the time, they had all staked out a more moderate position that appealed to voters in previously Republican-held districts. But now the GOP has a gameplan in place to challenge just how moderate those new Democrats have been.
“He's been a very loyal vote for very liberal House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He's brought a very partisan agenda to Congress,” said Republican spokesman Ken Spain.
“If you look at his record, what you see is a guy who is 98 percent in line with his party. One of the most, if not the most of the freshman Congress there. So, it's hard to say he's made any difference at all. It's hard to even say that any outcome would be different, “ said Hanna.
“You tell me which votes I made that the people in Central New York, in the 24th Congressional District, don't think are important. That's the real question,” Arcuri said.
Beyond the expected debate over issues and records, the two candidates do seem to share a sense of awe over what government can be and the chance to serve.
For Hanna,a brief departure from life as a businessman.
“The old Thomas Jefferson notion that you come from some bank of knowledge. You bring it with you. You add it to the value of your world and your government. And then you go home, someday,” said Hanna.
For Arcuri, there is still a sense of the surreal in doing the job he does.
“There are times, you know. You're walking along, especially at night, you know, when the dome is lit up and then you just stop and you look up and you say, wow. It is absolutely the greatest job in the world,” Arcuri said.
There is a Republican edge in voter registration in the 24th Congressional District. In 2006, Michael Arcuri overcame that to beat a popular State Senator, Ray Meier by about eight percentage points.