Published: November 01, 2008 12:02 am      

OUR VIEW: Alice Kryzan earns nod in Democratic year

It will be the second race on the ballot for many in the Tonawandas — and the first competitive one. We’re calling the Empire State for Obama, hardly a political risk.

Democrat Alice Kryzan and Republican Chris Lee have duked it out in newspapers, mailings, TV commercials and on the Internet this campaign. It’s gotten so bad that we’re left to wonder just how much enthusiasm there is for either candidate in a district that has been besieged by political attack ads for the last 9 months.

But like it or not, voters will send one of the two to Washington on Tuesday. For our money, we suggest that person be Democrat Alice Kryzan.

This was one of those rare instances where a candidate’s party affiliation was the major reason for our endorsement. Kryzan was utterly pragmatic in making her pitch to us: A Democrat in a lean-Republican district will be in a much better position to represent constituents than a Republican would be.

There are some brass tacks political realities this year. Democrats are poised to take control of the federal government. Indeed, they look to stretch their majorities in both the House and Senate to a generational high water mark.

We have to agree with Kryzan when she argues that sending a freshman Republican to Washington in that climate will leave residents here with a marginalized legislator who has little leverage and no real chance to advance the many important issues impacting our community.

However, if Kryzan wins this normally safe GOP seat, it would make for a prime target by Republicans in two years. Traditionally, endangered freshmen congressmen receive first consideration on committee assignments. They are put front-and-center on important issues in order to convince the folks back home that they’re making a difference in Washington.

No doubt, if voters pick Kryzan, she’ll be in line for this front-seat treatment. And that will benefit the district.

There’s a reason we’re basing our endorsement solely on politics: Neither candidate was really all that impressive.

Kryzan won a three-way primary where she was greatly outspent in a negative ad war between her two opponents. Lee faced no primary opposition and has stuck closely to a generic Republican campaign script since September.

Kryzan, too sounded her party line in our interview and both have succumbed to the worst Beltway smile-and-smear campaign tactics. Ads from both sides have grossly distorted records and national party ads have taken the race even farther from reality.

So, the bottom line: If you have to pick someone to represent you in Washington and neither candidate wows you, pick the one who’s going to be in the best position when they get there.