Eddie Sundquist, a Jamestown attorney and former elementary school teacher, is among five remaining Democratic candidates seeking the nomination for the 23rd Congressional District.
The winner of the June 26 primary will run against Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, in the fall election.
While not writing off any of the counties on the eastern end of the 11-county congressional district, Sundquist has focused more on the counties in his backyard, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Allegany. He’s been endorsed by the Cattaraugus and Chautauqua County Democratic committees and chairmen.
Sundquist’s campaign’s strategy is for the other four candidates to fight over the eastern end of the district, while Sundquist concentrates on getting out the Democratic vote in the westernmost counties.
He said he’s put 70,000 miles on his car in the last year campaigning from one end of the district to the other. He points out he returned to Jamestown after leaving the area to teach in Philadelphia.
Sundquist answered a series of questions put to other 23rd Congressional District candidates. The questions and his answers follow:
Q. Why are you running? None of the Democratic candidates have sought elective office before. What was it that prompted you to run? A. “As someone who has grown up in this area and came back as a young professional, I’ve seen what it means for a district to be cut off from the region and the state. Talking to average people, I’ve seen how hard it can be. We need better representation, someone who is younger and has fresh ideas on how to move this district forward.”
Q. What are your qualifications to represent the 11-county 23rd Congressional District? What do you consider the greatest needs of the district?
A. “My qualifications are a car that can drive a lot of miles — over 70,000 miles since I started the campaign. My greatest qualification is being someone who can compromise and create relationships with people. It’s what I’ve done as a teacher and attorney. I find solutions to move people forward. All the other candidates are fine, but what they lack is being able to create relationships. It’s important to have a congressman who can go into a diner and say hello to people to know the pulse of their district.”
Q. What has Rep. Tom Reed voted for that you disagree with the most? Which of his votes would you take back if you could?
A. “There are a couple of bills. The first one fortunately never made it to the House floor. It would have mandated the death penalty for drug dealers, something he said was “harsh and overrated. What is more important is getting treatment for individuals who are addicted. The second bill is the tax scam bill. It’s a huge issue that affects everyone. My problem is not people getting a little more money in their paycheck. We haven’t seen wages and salaries rise in over 10 years. We need a better living wage.”
Q. With Tom Reed’s support of President Trump as a disruptive force on Washington (and the world), will this House election be a referendum on Trump in some people’s minds?
A. “For this district, no. What we are focused on is recognizing our problem is Congress. We have an administration with not the best policies, but also a Congress that has been ineffective in policing this administration. The tax bill was only the start of what they want to do. I think the tax bill was meant not to have enough money for other entitlement programs like Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid.”
Q. It seems the Democratic candidates agree on one thing: A single-payer, Medicare for all health care bill. Reed is already calling this socialized medicine and labeling all the Democratic candidates “extreme” Ithaca liberals.
A. “He (Reed) loves to call me an extreme Ithaca liberal. I’ll gladly show him where Jamestown is on the map. As long as you know that I stand for 21st century jobs, health care for folks and to deal with the opioid crisis, Reed’s name-calling doesn’t matter. He’s using the same tactics over and over again.”
Q. Reed often uses Nancy Pelosi as an example of this extreme liberalism. Would you support Pelosi’s bid to become House speaker again if Democrats retake the House?
A. “I was the first of the Democratic candidates to say no. I think it is time for a new generation of leadership and term limits on the House leader. She’s done a lot of work for Democrats, but it is time for a fresh new voice in Congress.”
Q. How are you going to turn the 23rd District from red to blue? How are you we going to win the election?
A. “The number of individuals in the district without any political affiliation is often underestimated. They include a lot of millennials who more often vote for the person not the party. Despite there being five candidates in the primary, people want to line up behind someone. The way you win is you on knock on more doors. Moderate Republicans are turning away from Tom Reed because he is not focused on the people of the district.”
(Contact reporter Rick Miller at rmiller@oleantimesherald.com. Follow him on Twitter, @RMillerOTH)
