Updated 06/26/2012 10:30 PM
Chris Collins Wins GOP Nomination
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DEPEW, N.Y. — "It's been an interesting three months," said Chris Collins, taking the stage Tuesday night.
Collins, the former Erie County Executive, won the GOP nod Tuesday in the newly formed 27th Congressional District.
By 10 p.m., Collins lead challenger David Bellavia 71 percent to 29 percent, and the celebrations began at Collins HQ in Depew.
Collins said he won the nomination "the old fashioned way, by talking to voters."
Collins thanked Bellavia for a hard-fought campaign and thanked him for his service. He then took to his opponent in November, Rep. Kathy Hochul, and said the Democrat, along with President Obama, was "content to kick the can down the street" when it comes to employment and the economy.
"Chris Collins has made it a hallmark of his campaign to avoid taking positions on key issues. But one thing is clear, Mr. Collins supports Paul Ryan's budget; a plan that turns Medicare into a voucher program and makes seniors pay $6,400 more for their Medicare benefits to fund tax cuts for multi-millionaires. He has even has said that it does not go far enough.
“It is time that Chris Collins comes clean with voters about his plans to take the Ryan’s budget further. What more could he do on top of decimating Medicare and protecting the super rich? We hope that now that he is the nominee he willing to answer questions on the issues that matter most to the people of the 27th district.”
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A sunny summer day for Tuesday's Republican primary in June - the first in decades, and for both candidates, turnout was a top priority.
"I think we're gonna hit that 20 percent or more, certainly we would want more, but we understand it's a summer day, and June primaries are unusual," said Chris Collins, Candidate for the 27th District.
Former Erie County Executive Chris Collins voted with his wife and daughter in Clarence. Iraq war veteran David Bellavia, in Batavia with his kids by his side. Both are vying to get the Republican nod to take on Congresswoman Kathy Hochul in November.
The two men come from different areas - Collins from the heavily populated western part of the district, and Bellavia from the agriculturally-based eastern side.
"This is the breadbasket of our area. We're agriculture. We're focused on values. At the end of the day, what it's going to come down to is how many people we can bring out, and how many people he can bring out," said Bellavia.
Collins is relying on his record as Erie County Executive to help sway voters. He says, when he lost the position last November, it was the public who convinced him to stay in politics.
"When the people on the street came up and said we're so sorry you're not going to be our county executive. We hope you stay involved, I just had an outpouring of people asking me frankly to continue down the political road," he said. "We showed that you can have more efficient government, respecting taxpayers, without giving much up."
Bellavia says voters have had enough of career politicians, and are ready for a new voice.
"They want change," he said. "They want a candidate they can be proud of. They don't want to be disappointed like they were in the November election - in the Corwin election, when Mr. Collins and his machine ruined that race as well. They want to be behind a winner. I think I represent the best challenge to Representative Hochul."
The new 27th congressional district includes all or parts of eight different counties. Polls close at 9 p.m. Tuesday.