Published: August 28, 2008 09:01 pm            

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION: Talking up Western New York

Golisano, local officials hoping convention ties will help area

Billionaire Tom Golisano’s $1 million donation to the Democratic National Convention may end up paying big dividends for Western New Yorkers.

Golisano spent much of his time at this week’s convention meeting with several high-profile politicians, including former President Bill Clinton, Gov. David Paterson and U.S. Senators Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer — connections he hopes to call upon in any future projects or endeavors, said Gary Parenti, who is assisting Golisano in Denver.

Parenti, an activist for the local Democratic Party and former candidate for the 138th state Assembly district, said he’s been responsible for organizing Golisano’s meetings this past week. The two made the trip up last weekend as part of a local contingent that also includes Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, attorney John Bartolomei and former Erie County Democratic Chairman Steve Pigeon.

“Our time up here has been really well spent and I think it’s going to have a substantial benefit to everyone back home,” Parenti said over the phone earlier this week. “Tom Golisano is interested in investing in our community and bringing the relationships he’s strengthening at the state and national level with him.”

Golisano, owner of the Buffalo Sabres and a three-time candidate for governor, donated $1 million to the host committee of the Democratic Party’s convention. He has also formed an organization called Responsible New York, which will spend $5 million to endorse and support “reform-minded” candidates in the state Legislature. Among the dozens of candidates already endorsed is Paula Banks-Dahlke, a Republican challenging Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte in the 138th District.

Parenti said Golisano is now considering starting another organization called Responsible America to endorse candidates in races for the U.S. senate.

“He feels the health care system is broken and the education could be better and wants to tackle those issues on a national scale,” Parenti said.

The prominent Rochester businessman is also focusing his attention on the Upstate New York economy, including possibly working with the City of Niagara Falls on a windmill energy project, Parenti said.

“When Tom comes to a project or gets behind it, whether it be supporting a hospital or helping a struggling school system, he brings in the relationships he has with state leaders,” Parenti said. “That’s how us being here at the Democratic National Convention and strengthening those relationships will influence our upstate economy and Niagara Falls.”

Parenti, who has attended several other party conventions, said he’s enjoyed his time in Denver this week, specifically because instead of being a guest on the floor he’s been able to go behind the scenes as Golisano’s assistant.

“We’ve really seen it from a different perspective,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

Meanwhile, local Democrats watching the televised convention from home are liking what they see. Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster said he was particularly impressed with Senator Clinton’s speech on Tuesday as she tried to unify the party following her race against Barack Obama.

“Everyone in New York is proud of the campaign Hillary ran,” Dyster said. “The Democratic Party has always tried to be a dedicated force for positive change. This year, the party attempted to accomplish two great things, either have the first woman president or the first African-American president and you knew only one of those two constituencies was going to win. Now is the time for all of us in the Democratic Party to do the right thing and pull the party together and run a strong and unified race in November.”

While it threatened to split the party in half, Dyster said the race between Clinton and Obama served as an inspiration that race and gender should not hinder individuals from dreaming about being the president of the United States.

“That’s a wonderful thing,” Dyster said.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.