By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – U.S. Congressman Jack Quinn Wednesday vowed to make it a smooth transition for the next representative of the 27th District. And he says that applies even if the seat is won by the person he isn't rooting for -- Democrat Brian Higgins.
Not surprisingly, the Congressman is endorsing fellow Republican Nancy Naples to succeed him. But Quinn acknowledged the race in the heavily Democratic 27th district is too close to call. So, Quinn says no matter who wins, he'll be around to make sure they do a good job for the district.
Quinn says there's still a lot in the pipeline -- and a lot at stake for the region.
"A lot of these projects are ongoing and take years to happen," said Quinn. "So, whoever wins the election, we expect to spend days of meetings, where we can hand off the files, where we can give everyone a status report on what has to happen next, and who should be assigned what, and where it is and make some contacts for them in Washington make some contacts here in Buffalo and Western New York. That's a given because that's important for the people who live here. The politics is over."
Top on Quinn's priority list are about $70 million of local transportation committee items. Among them, many waterfront development projects, including a much sought after deal with Bass Pro. Quinn says getting anything done after the election will depend on politicians putting the ugly campaign season aside and getting to work. The moderate Republican's advice to his successor? Meet in the middle.
"The key to any success I've had there is that we've been able both sides of the aisle. And that's a difficulty when these campaigns get so personal and so negative," Quinn said. "I've said many times, it's very difficult to just kiss and make up and go back to work the first part of December and pretend nothing nasty was said for four months -- every night, every day, over the television, the radio and in the newspaper. It's difficult to just forget that."
Quinn says, he for one will be glad when the election -- along with all its ugly political ads -- can finally be talked about in the past tense. But the Congressman isn't putting a period on his own political career. Quinn, who was an English teacher before going to D.C., didn't rule out a possible future run for public office. But for now, the Congressman says he needs a rest.