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

UTICA – The two candidates in the 24 Congressional District agree: The current Social Security system should remain in place and not be privatized

But Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-Utica, and Republican challenger Richard Hanna, of Barneveld, do have some differing opinions on how the government will have to respond to the program in the coming years.

The funding for Social Security is collected through workers’ paychecks. This year, for the first time ever, the system is paying out more money than it is taking in.

Despite this, both candidates said that projections show the system can remain as it is until 2037.

Hanna, however, said that with more money going out than coming in, the government is going to have to stop borrowing from Social Security and start dedicating funding to support it.

Hanna said he doesn’t think Arcuri understands that this needs to be a priority because Arcuri has voted for major spending bills such as the stimulus bill.

“The government is going to have to meet its obligation to keep it solvent,” Hanna said, of Social Security.

Read More…

About 25 people sat in a circle at the Seen/Unseen art gallery, at 77 Main St., for about 90 minutes exchanging views with Hanna, who said he supports a ban on hydraulic fracturing because questions persist about its safety.

“The word `safe’ is subjective,” Hanna said.

Though natural gas drilling may benefit New York’s lagging economy, Hanna said, water is a public asset that cannot be put at risk.

Read More…

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

Among the topics Richard and Steve discussed: honest leadership, jobs and the economy, the race for the 24th Congressional District, and the future of Upstate New York.

To see the full-length interview click here.

SYRACUSE – Richard Hanna and former New York City Mayor Ed Koch are on a mission to reform New York.

Koch is in Syracuse today and has traveled through Upstate New York this week highlighting the efforts of his independent and nonpartisan reform group – NY Uprising. One issue NY Uprising is calling for is an independent, nonpartisan commission to draw redistricting in the state next year.

“I applaud Richard Hanna as a “Hero of Reform” for signing the New York Uprising pledge on legislative redistricting,” said Koch, founder of NY Uprising. “This year voters are counting on candidates to commit to specific reforms in advance, as Richard has done. I look forward to working with him to see them swiftly implemented should he be elected.”
 


Koch is also calling out elected leaders – like Michael Arcuri – who have been absent on this issue of reform in New York.

Hanna said he is committed to all areas of reform that NY Uprising advocates for: Independent Redistricting, Ethical Government and Responsible Budgeting.

“Mayor Ed Koch is committed to ending New York’s downward spiral and I support his efforts,” Hanna said. “If we don’t want to continue to be the highest taxed and regulated state in the nation, then reform starts here. Albany is dysfunctional. Every elected official and every resident in the state should stand with Mayor Koch to clean up government and restore our state to its former prominence.”

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The nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report Monday released new analysis moving the race for the 24th Congressional District seat in favor of Richard Hanna.

The rating was upgraded from ‘Pure Toss-Up’ to ‘Toss-Up/Tilt Republican.’

Hanna, who will run on the Republican, Independence and Conservative lines, outraised incumbent Michael Arcuri both the first and second quarters of this year. Hanna announced his campaign on Jan. 20 – losing valuable time in the first fundraising quarter – and still outraised his opponent nearly two-to-one.

Elections expert Stuart Rothenberg’s report is subscription-only.

Here is the analysis for New York’s 24th Congressional District:

NY 24 (Arcuri, D): “Michael Arcuri’s narrow 51%-49% win over Richard Hanna in ’08 was a surprise, and Hanna is back for a re-match. This looks to be one of the GOP’s top two opportunities in the Empire State, and the state’s Working Families Party apparently won’t endorse Arcuri as a punishment for his vote against the Democratic health care plan.”

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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.”

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.

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!