Published: September 03, 2008 10:38 pm            

NORTH TONAWANDA: Riviera hosting GOP coverage

It’s the GOPs turn to strut their stuff in this year’s presidential contest and it’s all live tonight at the Riviera Theatre.

Last week, the final day of Democratic National Convention coverage was aired for a sparse crowd at the North Tonawanda landmark on Webster Street.

Tonight, a similar event will showcase John McCain’s planned acceptance speech, as well as an audio feed leading up to it, in which Niagara County Republican Committee Chairman Henry Wojtaszek, a delegate to the convention, will host parts of the coverage from the floor in St. Paul, Minn.

“I’ll be talking to George (Maziarz) first thing tomorrow — we’re just trying to have me on the phone on the floor of the convention, talking to some of the people there. That’s the plan for now,” Wojtaszek told the Tonawanda News on Wednesday.

Wojtaszek said the plan still needs to be firmed up, and will require the skills of an associate with the knowledge to set up the feed.

He said while he had already planned to call Frank Cannata, executive director of the Riviera, it was Cannata who first contacted him about possibly using the venue. The same was true last week, when Cannata called Dan Rivera of the county Democratic Committee to put something together.

The free event beginning at 7:30 p.m. is co-sponsored by both Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, and Wojtaszek, Maziarz said.

He said he’s confident more will turn out for the GOP side rally.

“We hope to get more than 25 people,” Maziarz said, referring to attendance last week.

Maziarz, also a delegate, is staying home and attending the local event, partly due to a death in the family, he said.

“First of all, it’s a great event at the Riviera Theatre. I think clearly McCain has done the unexpected with his choice for vice presidential running mate. I think it has really electrified this convention,” he said.

Refreshments will be available, including pizza and a bar serving beer and wine.

All are invited to attend, and coverage is expected to wrap up at about 11 p.m.

Contact reporter Neale Gulley at 693-1000, ext. 114.

        

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