The fine folks at Greater Niagara News ran an editorial the other day about Primary Challenge, whom I had on the show the other day. It went something like this:

We like the idea of Primary Challenge.

The group of concerned citizens wants to effect change by taking on political incumbents in primary elections. Founder Leonard Ruberto thinks the current system unfairly favors political insiders, and the only way to give regular citizens a chance in the process is to force primaries.

"There is a wall that's been erected between the people and the political process," Ruberto said. "We need to make the parties work the way they're supposed to work."

He's right.

Too often, the same old politicians are re-elected without meaningful challenge. If our system was working, this might make sense. But any reasonable person will agree that it isn�t.

Buffalo has a state-imposed financial control board. Erie County is in the midst of a financial meltdown. Our state government is the nation�s most dysfunctional.

Yet miraculously, we keep re-electing the same old politicians.

That said, we think Primary Challenge is going too far, since the group won't support anyone who has ever held office or served as a committee member of a political party. For example, a person who has served well as a city or town council member may make a good county legislator.

Let's be realistic: Primary Challenge has only filled about half the 15 slots it's seeking for this fall's Erie County Legislature races.

Part of that may be that they're excluding too many people. It's one thing to be guided by a firmly held set of principles. It's another thing to be blinded by them. If that's what this group turns out to be, it's going to a very ineffective and short-lived political movement.

I definately see the newspaper's point of view and more than one politician has complained about Primary Challenge's stance ... but isn't something better than nothing? And politics is such a tricky game, I can certainly understand PC's desire to not deal with politicians.

Side note: Got an email from Jean LaTona, president of the Niagara County Chapter. It went a little something like this:

hi scott!
i just wanted to let you know that primary challenge niagara county is having it's first meeting tuesday 5/10 at 7pm at the olympic restaurant on niagara falls boulevard.
all niagara county residents are invited to attend. we're still looking for candidates and people who want change. if you would relay this to your listeners that would awesome.
and once we get some candidates we'd love to come on your show again. thank you so much for your help and your station's help.

Just thought I'd pass it on. Of course, we'll have Jean and Lenny on again.

-- Edited by Scott Leffler at 07:03, 2005-05-04