Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Congressman Tom Reed has been sworn in on the floor of the House of Representatives. Swearing in for the Congressman, whose district includes Cattaraugus County, was postponed for a couple of days after he was hospitalized with blood clots in his lungs. He was released from the hospital this morning and sworn in by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at around 2 o’clock this afternoon. Reed replaces Eric Massa, who resigned in March amid allegations that he was sexually harassing male staff members.

The Republican takeover of the House of Representatives extended to the 29th Congressional District seat in New York, vacated by Eric Massa. Former Corning mayor Tom Reed beat out Democrat Matt Zeller. Massa held the seat until he resigned March 8 under allegations of sexual harassment. The seat remained empty through the year, with Gov. David Paterson choosing not to hold a special election until Tuesday. The 29th District occupies much of the Southern Tier, including Cattaraugus and Allegany counties.

New York Governor David Paterson has announced that the special election to fill the empty 29th Congressional District seat will be held November 2 – the same day as the general election. The seat has been empty since Eric Massa resigned in March amid a sex scandal. Paterson said he was concerned about the financial burden of holding a special election so close to the general election, and also about some counties using new electronic voting machines for the first time. http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/051210SpecialElection.html

ALBANY - Republicans in the State Senate are joining the call for a special election in the 29th Congressional district, to let voters decide who will replace former Congressman Eric Massa, according to Senator Catharine Young (R,I,C – Olean). They have introduced a resolution calling on Governor Paterson to immediately set a date for a special election to fill the vacant seat. “There are nearly 700,000 residents in this state that have not had representation in Washington at a time when historic decisions in health care, national security and job creation are being made. We face unprecedented economic and fiscal challenges and it’s imperative we have representation in Congress,” said Senator Young. Former Congressman Eric Massa resigned on March 8, yet Governor Paterson has not yet declared a vacancy and publically announced this week that he was inclined to wait until the primary and general elections to fill the seat. Shortly after Massa’s resignation, Senato...

A Limestone man is among three people in New York’s 29th Congressional District who have filed a lawsuit, hoping to force Governor David Paterson to call a special election. The district has been without representation in Washington since former Congressman Eric Massa resigned in March. On Monday, Carl Edwards of Limestone, along with Cynthia Alford and Larry Fox filed the suit in US District Court. The governor’s office says the litigation is without merit because the law says calling a special election is at the governor’s sole discretion.

A former Chief of Staff has filed a sexual harassment complaint against former Congressman Eric Massa. An attorney for Joe Racalto would not give details of the complaint, filed with the Congressional Office of Compliance. Another male aide has also filed a complaint against Massa, who resigned last month.

New York Governor David Paterson may not call for a special election to fill the seat left vacant by former Congressman Eric Massa. Last month, Paterson said he would call for the election as soon as possible. But now he says he may not call for the election because of the financial impact it would have at the county level. In a news release, he says the Southern Tier counties that Massa represented are facing the same fiscal crisis the state is facing. Without a special election, the district would be without representation in the House until January.

Congressman Eric Massa is resigning, effective Monday. Massa announced earlier this week that he wouldn't be seeking re-election because of a recurrence of cancer, but the House ethics panel is reviewing a complaint by a male staff member who reportedly felt uncomfortable in a situation with Massa that had sexual overtones. Massa represents most of the Southern Tier of New York, including Cattaraugus County. You can read an open letter from Massa here .

New York Congressman Eric Massa has announced he's not running for re-election because of a third cancer scare. Massa, who represents most of the Southern Tier of New York, including Cattaraugus County, battled non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the 1990s. In December when he had the third scare, his doctors told him he can't continue working at the pace he's been working. In a conference call with reporters, Massa also denied rumors that he's not seeking re-election because of allegations of harassment in his office. He's says the allegations are not true. You think no one pays attention to our local elected officials? This story just made the CNN news at 5.