By Joyce Kryszak
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-968558.mp3
Buffalo, New York – Davis, who is the Tea Party candidate, was approached in a parking lot earlier this week by the man now identified as Mallia. He's heard on tape asking why Davis backed out of a planned debate. An apparent scuffle ensued.
The man involved in the alleged altercation this week with 26th Congressional District candidate Jack Davis is the State Assembly chief of staff for Republican candidate, State Assemblywoman Jane Corwin.
The man who shot the video and who was apparently hit by Davis was originally identified as a Corwin campaign volunteer. But the campaign on Thursday confirmed it was actually the Assemblywoman's top staffer, Mark Mallia.
The recording was released by the local Republican Party who would not identify the staffer. When contacted by WBFO Thursday, Corwin Campaign spokesman Matthew Harakal initially continued to identify the man only as a volunteer. He then conceded it was Mallia, Corwin's Chief of Staff.
"The one in the video is him, but again, it was after hours and he was on his own time," said Harakal.
Harakal said the video speaks for itself. He said Davis clearly does not have the temperament for Congress.
"Jane has had people come up and stick cameras in her face, she's had people come to her house, take pictures of her home and she's never acted the way Jack Davis did," said Harakal.
Davis' campaign did not immediately return requests for comment. In written statements, the campaign has called the incident a "phoney attack video." Local Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy also has not returned calls for comment.
Kathy Hochul is the Democrat in the race for the hotly contested 26th Congressional District seat. The special election is Tuesday, May 24.
The audio portion of the entire recorded exchange is posted on YouTube.
The first voice you'll hear is that of the volunteer, followed by that of Davis. When the volunteer speaks again, he is approached and apparently struck gain, this time by Davis' handler.