GOP Rep. Reynolds Won't Seek Reelection

Western N.Y. Congressman Was Once Considered Potential House Speaker

(AP)  Rep. Thomas Reynolds, a once-powerful lawmaker who saw his fortunes fall with those of the House Republicans, said he won't seek re-election to a sixth term this year.

The 57-year-old Republican lawmaker from suburban Clarence held a news conference Thursday afternoon to announce that he'll retire from Congress at the end of this year to spend more time with his family, which includes four grandchildren.

Before Thursday, 28 House Republican incumbents had indicated they would not run again, giving Democrats an opportunity to expand their majority this fall.

Reynolds was once considered a potential speaker of the House. He chaired the National Republican Congressional Committee for two elections, guiding his party to strong wins in 2004 but in 2006, it lost control of the House that the GOP had held for a dozen years.

He raised hundreds of millions of dollars for his party, but the committee has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks after revelations that hundreds of thousands of dollars are missing. The missing money has prompted an ongoing investigation into a former treasurer for the group.

On the House floor or in his GOP offices, the barrel-chested congressman would often hammer at Democrats in the regional accent often called "Buffalo English," using the smashmouth terminology of football to describe political contests.

As his party faced stronger challenges from Democrats, so did Reynolds.

To win his current term, he defeated Democrat Jack Davis in a contest that cost both sides millions of dollars. That race was dominated by debate over Reynolds' role in the Mark Foley congressional page scandal, with Reynolds saying he did everything in his power to force Foley out of Congress after he learned of inappropriate communications with young pages. Then, just weeks before Election Day a powerful snowstorm crippled much of Reynolds' district, shifting the public's attention to the emergency response.

Davis said this week he would commit $3 million for a third Reynolds challenge, bringing to three the number of Democrats seeking Reynolds seat.

For five terms, Reynolds has represented the 26th Congressional District, a seven-county region that stretches from the Rochester area to the Buffalo suburbs.

A former state legislator, Reynolds spent much of his time in Congress advocating for lower taxes. He may be remembered best in his district for the winning effort in 2005 to save the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, which had been slated for closure in an intense round of military cost-cutting.

Reynolds is the second New York Republican in the House this year to decide not to seek re-election. Syracuse lawmaker James Walsh made the same decision in January. Currently, there are six New York Republicans in Congress, half the number at the start of the decade, and the decisions by Walsh and Reynolds suggest the party may face more election losses this year.

[artiejoe68]

Like rats escaping a sinking ship, the Republicans in Congress are bolting with what little credibility and respectability the have left. The Obama/Clinton saga may sink the White House aspirations for the Democrats, but they''re likely to gain seats in the House and Senate; including the Senate seat being vacated here in Colorado by Wayne Allard. Senator Mark Udall (D-Colo) has a nice ring to it! Signed, ArtieJoe68, Denver.

[stn_sage]

artiejoe68 - You beat me man! I was going to start my post with ''the rats'' analogy---that''s OK though!

Here''s some good news! Another---''since I can''t dictate policy guys''---deciding to get out versus working with the other members to fix 7 1/2 years of Republican fiscal irresponsibility, corruption, and sexual deviancy! Good riddance!

I don''t believe for a minute he did anything but ''look the other way'' when he became aware of Mark Foley''s stalking pages!

[antoniof123]

artiejoe68 I really doubt that the Democrats will lose this election for the President in fact if they just do a half decent job they will get re-elected. After 12 years of Repulbicans and their antics including 8 years of the worst President in history I don''t see it happening.

Even with all the smear tactics the Republicans are doing on the Democrats once it is decided which one goes they will win. The numbers who are angry with the Republicans for saying they will decide for America. Now they will see who the master is and who the slave is. Somehow I don''t think these Republicans really had a chance in the next election.

[lovegetpeace]

I predict a Filibuster and Veto proof Congress in Nov 4, 2008 for the Democrats. So, even if the old McCain gets elected, he can sit back and let congress govern.

[mcvet]

Another Nazi bites the dust. LOL The name Republican isn''t very welcome in the country outside the Fascist South right now. You don''t LIE to American''s, Start a war on those lies and get away with it. WE the PEOPLE, MR. Cheney, WE the PEOPLE are the BOSS and you and your Party are going to find that out... BIG TIME!! Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

I predict a Filibuster and Veto proof Congress in Nov 4, 2008 for the Democrats. So, even if the old McCain gets elected, he can sit back and let congress govern.


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Posted by lovegetpeace at 06:24 PM : Mar 20, 2008
+ report abuse

Oh McCain doesn''t have a chance either. Once the fight is over on who''s going to represent the party all that hate and anger for Bush is going to be focused Squarely on him. In most of this Country the picture of him and Bush all pals and the like, will be enough to sink him.

[kansas1946]

Poor Republicans. I guess they thought they could just behave badly, and in many cases, illegally, and still fly high. I just hope the Democrats are paying attention. The voters will turn on Democrats just as quickly if they let success go to their head and disply the amount of arrogance that the Republicans have. It is amazing how hard that lesson is to learn for politicians.

[singingrick]

Another rat jumping the sinking ship.

[crater7]

IMAGINE THAT! ANOTHER REPUB RUNNING FOR THE HILLS. THESE GUYS MUST KNOW SOMETHING. GET OUT WHILE THE GETTING IS GOOD.

RUN FOR THE HILLS.

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA, NOT "G D" AMERICA.

[skyk-2009]

Maybe this rat knew what the Bush Administration was doing with the State Department and Obama''s Passport File? Sometimes it''s best to leave before people start getting locked up.

[greatdrivew]

What happened to the Republican party?

Once the optimistic party of Lincoln and Reagan is now a shadowy group of special interests obsessed with war and running the Middle East. What happened?

It''s time for the new American majority. Obama 2008.

[skyk-2009]

IMAGINE THAT! ANOTHER REPUB RUNNING FOR THE HILLS. THESE GUYS MUST KNOW SOMETHING. GET OUT WHILE THE GETTING IS GOOD.

RUN FOR THE HILLS.

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA, NOT "G D" AMERICA.


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Posted by crater7 at 09:41 PM : Mar 20, 2008
+ report abuse

LOL Well some people have sense enough to get off the tracks when they hear the whistle. LOL