Recently there were some very nice letters to the editor in the Observer-Dispatch about Richard Hanna. They’re pasted below, but you can also click on the headline to link to the Observer-Dispatch’s Web site.

This letter appeared today:

Vote for Richard Hanna and get the real deal

Richard Hanna spoke briefly at his recent campaign barbecue. He was brief, charmingly eloquent and easily likeable.
The only promise made was honest representation. Representation that honors hard work, achievement and the acknowledgement that all else cannot exist without them.

His is not the platform of a professional politician. Richard Hanna’s like us. He wants the best for the 24th Congressional District. That “best” is an improved economy that will provide the kind of future that offers opportunity.

It’s not a promise of an endless stream of government assistance, or another “stimulus” package building curbs for sidewalks that don’t exist. Richard Hanna’s campaign is low-key and rises from the bottom to the top, not the other way around. It needs to be noted that Hanna doesn’t need the job. He’s making the run thinking he can make things better.

Richard Hanna’s not going to hand us schemes we don’t want and then follow up with presenting the bill to the four generations of our progeny needed to pay for them.

THOMAS J. BROWNE
Whitesboro

And this one was posted online Aug. 18:

Hard-working Hanna would work hard for us

Let’s be realistic. A successful businessman makes a profit.

If you were a successful businessman, wouldn’t you have a diverse portfolio of investments, including commodities, utilities, oil, etc.?

I’ve known Rich Hanna for 40 years, from a young man working from sunup to sundown operating heavy machinery up on Deerfield Hill, to the successful businessman he is today.

I don’t know about you, but I want someone who knows how to make things work, as my representative in Congress.

I want someone who is not afraid of the hard work it takes to get the job done right. This November, we have a chance to have Rich work for us in Washington.

The taxpayers have been beaten over the head enough, lately. Let’s give Rich Hanna a chance to help stop the bleeding.

RON MacMASTER
Clinton

HERKIMER – Richard Hanna toured the Herkimer County Fair today, attended the opening ceremonies and met with local farmers.

Be sure to stop by and check out all the local exhibits.

It was lobster with a side of politics today in Norwich.

Richard Hanna attended the 36th annual Lobsterfest organized by the Chenango County Republican Committee.

About 500 people attended the event, and Richard drove to Norwich with his son, Emerson, in his 1950 Chevrolet pickup truck.

Chenango County Republican Chairman Tom Morrone – who is the longest running party chairman in New York state – oversaw the event telling the Norwich Evening Sun newspaper that Lobsterfest is “the most non-political of political events.”

Today, Richard Hanna flew into the Cortland County Airport for Airfest 2010. Richard, who is a licensed pilot, remarked on the beauty of Chase Field.

After meeting other pilots and those who attended the Airfest, Richard traveled to Homer for the Holiday in Homer. He met with local residents, toured various craft booths and spoke with vendors.

“I always receive such a warm welcome each time I’m in Cortland County, and I look forward to my next visit,” Richard said.

Richard Hanna joined many Herkimer County residents tonight and participated in the Village of Ilion’s Doo Dah parade. Walking alongside his  1950 Chevrolet pickup truck, Richard handed out candy to children who lined the parade route and said hello to those watching the parade.

The rain held off, the sun came out and the parade drew thousands of people. Richard was walked behind the wonderful music of Utica’s famous La Banda Rossa and before Assemblyman Marc Butler.

We hope you caught some Tootsie Rolls!

Congressional Quarterly released new ratings Saturday, moving the 24th Congressional District race from “Leans Democrat” to “Tossup.”

CQ now joins Real Clear Politics, The Cook Political Report and The Rothenberg Report, as all analysts have moved the race away from Michael Arcuri (D).

Hanna outraised Arcuri in the first quarter of 2010 by some $150,000, and most of Arcuri’s financing came from outside the 24th Congressional District. About 91 percent of Hanna’s donations were from residents of the 24th Congressional District, and area business leaders also invested in Hanna’s campaign and message of jobs and opportunity.

Hanna is touring Cortland County today, visiting with residents, business owners and local leaders.

In response to Michael Arcuri’s announcement that he will vote no on the health-care bill:

“I am pleased that after months of inexplicable waffling, he has finally decided to listen to his constituents, who are overwhelmingly against this bill — as they should be,” Richard Hanna said. “It is unfortunate that it’s taken an election year for him to vote the way he should. We should all be asking what Mr. Arcuri’s core principles are.”

It was a one-year anniversary, but there wasn’t much to celebrate.

A year after the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed, roughly half of the $787 billion stimulus bill is spent. (more…)