Paul Graham endorses Douglas Walter Drazen at a press conference on Wednesday, September 30, 2009.
FORMER DEMOCRAT MAYORAL CANDIDATE CROSSES PARTY LINES; JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD WEDNESDAY
Binghamton, NY – September 29, 2009 – Former Democrat mayoral candidate Paul Graham has endorsed Independent candidate Douglas Walter Drazen’s bid for mayor of Binghamton. Drazen is seeking to unseat incumbent Matt Ryan. He finished a close second in 2005. The two will hold a press conference at Drazen’s office in the Holiday Inn-Arena on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 1:00 PM.
“One of my goals is to forge a new political alignment in the city among independent minded Democrats, Republicans, liberals, conservatives, independents, and other non-affiliated voters. This is a major step in that direction. “, said Drazen.
Graham personally gathered over 500 Democrat signatures over the summer, more than twice the other Democrats combined, but was knocked off the ballot, after his petitions were challenged by fellow Democrats.
“He showed commitment to the kind of work that goes into gathering that many signatures. I’ve done it, and it’s no small feat. Now he is showing commitment to principle and the best interest of his hometown before party politics, which is exactly what the city needs “, said Drazen.
As to the significance of this endorsement, Drazen said:
“It’s working people and homeowners like Paul Graham for whom my administration will be fighting, because they are to a large extent the ones paying the freight. They have not come first in a long time, which must change. This endorsement shows such people I am the real candidate of change.”
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