Democrats join Bazzani's team

By Jill Terreri
Niagara Gazette

October 04, 2006 11:27 pm

— Assembly candidate Dan Bazzani picked up the support of a group of Democrats on Wednesday who are upset with the current state of affairs in Western New York.
Holding signs that said, “Coach knows you need ‘D’ to win” and “Dems for Dan”, about 40 Democrats gathered in Bazzani’s Pine Avenue headquarters. The group included parents of the children Bazzani has coached at Niagara Falls High School, friends and family members.
If Bazzani is going to win in November, he’s going to need the support of a lot of Democrats.
Forty-six percent of the district is comprised of registered Democrats, while Republicans make up 33 percent.
“After what happened in the primary, people are looking for a positive campaign,” Bazzani said, referring to the Democratic primary between incumbent Francine DelMonte and Gary Parenti.
He said party affiliations don’t matter in this race.
“We’re all concerned about where this community is going,” he said.
Bazzani is waging a campaign against DelMonte, a well-financed Democrat, and Parenti, a Democrat who is running on the Independence line.
DelMonte has the support of the Democratic establishment, including state and local Democratic committees. She had over $70,000 in her campaign account according to the latest financial filing and is airing television advertisements.
Parenti’s campaign account was depleted during his pre-primary effort and Bazzani had less than $10,000 in July, according to his latest financial statements.
But Bazzani is getting some significant financial help.
He has attracted the support of the New York Republican State Committee, which has paid for mailings.
How much they’ve contributed won’t be known until Friday, when campaign financial reports are due.
Jeff Street is supporting Bazzani, who coached Street’s son, who played on the Niagara Falls High School basketball team and now attends St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania.
Street said Bazzani taught his son “respectability.”
“He’s the right man for the job,” Street said.
Baltico “Bo” Erias, who played basketball with Bazzani when they were younger, said he’s supporting the Republican because New York’s taxes are too high.
“He’s a leader,” Erias said. “We need real leadership in Albany.”
Jocklinecq Pryor said Bazzani is the first Democrat for which she’ll be voting.
“I feel that it was an honor to support Dan, even though he’s a Republican,” Pryor said.