2024 #NY22 Race Updates: Hot Seat: Media Monday blog about the 2024 election in New York’s 22nd Congressional District
Monday, June 24th Hot Seat: Media Monday, The topic: Will the allegations of abuse, sexism, and homophobic harassment by Sen. Mannion and his wife toward staffers impact their decision about who to vote for in the primary on Tuesday, June 25? I interviewed two people who voted in the Democratic primary, Jon Hysell and Kathy Wojciechowski, and Utica Phoenix Media political analyst, John Stemen, and civil rights activst and Utica Phoenix Media CEO, Cassandra Harris Lockwood.
Click here for my Hot Seat: Media Monday interview with Sarah Klee Hood and video clips from interviews with the candidate and her supporters.
June 24, 2024: Sarah Klee Hood attends Reproductive Freedom March sponsored by Indivisble Mohawk Valley and Planned Parenthood of the Mohawk Valley.
My grandmother fought this fight, my mother fought this fight, here I am fighting this fight for our daughters and granddaughters…they are already growing up in a world where they have less freedom than we had [before Roe v. Wade was overturned.]” – Sarah Klee Hood, NY22 Democratic primary candidate promising to fight for reproductive freedom
@ronklopfanstein “My grandmother fought this fight, my mother fought this fight, here I am fighting this fight for our daughters and granddaughters…they are already growing up in a world where they have less freedom than we had [before Roe v. Wade was overturned.]” @SarahKleeHoodNY NY22 Democratic primary candidate promising to fight for women’s rights at Indivisible Mohawk Valley’s Reproductive Freedom March in Utica, NY on 6/23/24. #NY22 #SarahKleeHood #Prochoice #ReproductiveFreedom
June 21, 2024: An interview with one of the authors of the Medium blog post attributed to “Concerned Mannion Staff”
Sen. John Mannion, who is running in the Democratic primary for New York’s 22nd U.S. Congressional district, accepted an invitation to be the guest on the June 24 Hot Seat: Media Monday. On June 20, a member of his staff, Joe Agovino, informed Utica Phoenix Media that the Senator would not appear on the program.
Later that evening, I talked to one of the authors of the open letter “To Central New Yorkers,” which was posted on the social media publishing platform Medium and accredited to “Concerned Mannion Staff.” We spoke on the condition of anonymity because the author(s) fear retaliation from Sen. Mannion and the party establishment. However, I was granted permission to publish their answers to three specific questions.
Why publish after early voting began?
When I inquired about the timing of the open letter’s publication on Monday, June 17, two days after early voting began on June 15, the ‘Concerned Mannion Staff’ explained that they had initially reached out to journalists before that date. However, due to the complexity of the story, they realized that thorough research and proper vetting of the story would not be possible in time. This led them to draft their own open letter and post it on a publicly accessible platform, but with utmost caution in their wording due to the seriousness of the matter. It was more important to them that their statement was accurate and supportable than that it was published before early voting began.
Did “Concerned Mannion Staff” contact the NY Post, which broke the story in the media?
I wondered if it was “Concerned Mannion Staff” who reached out to the NY Post, which published an article about their allegations entitled “State Sen. A ‘Bully:’ Ex-staff speak” online the following day (Tuesday, June 18) and their print edition on Wednesday, June 19 making the open letter go viral. They told me they do not know how the NY Post discovered their letter but that their first contact was initiated by the NY Post, who contacted them for comment.
Is “Concerned Mannion Staff” part of a dirty tricks endeavor by the Sarah Klee Hood campaign?
Sen. John Mannion told WKTV’s Luke Radel that the allegations are “clearly a coordinated effort to use smear tactics just a few days before the election to hurt me and my family.” I asked “Concerned Mannion Staff” if there was any truth to the Senator’s statement. They said, “I have no contact with the Sarah Klee Hood campaign.”
Before we concluded our conversation, I asked if there was anything they would like me to include in this short piece. They said, “I want people to know I am being vulnerable in sharing my story. We are doing this because we are obligated to protect young people choosing to enter politics to better their community.”
On the Monday, June 24th Hot Seat: Media Monday, I plan to talk to voters in the Democratic primary about how the allegations of abuse, sexism, and homophobic harassment by Sen. Mannion and his wife toward staffers will impact their decision about who to vote for in the primary on Tuesday, June 25. Tune in to 95.5 FM, or stream it with the TuneIn app or at 955TheHeat.com, Monday at 5 pm. Later that evening, I will have the entire show on my YouTube channel and on this page.
June 20, 2024: Sen. John Mannion’s campaign cancels his planned appearance on the 6/24/24 episode of the Hot Seat: Media Monday.
June 19, 2024: The New York Post reports “Dem NY Sen. John Mannion berated workers, was often ‘sexist and homophobic,’ ex-staffers allege” in response to a Medium blog post said to be written by Concerned Mannion Staff alleging “experiences of a hostile work environment — including mistreatment, harassment, and retaliation — during our time working for the Senator.”
June 15, 2024: @WKTV‘s Luke Radel reports: “Happening now: Fmr. NY Governor David Paterson endorses @MannionforNY as early voting begins in the #NY22 Democratic primary. Mannion points out that Paterson was the state’s first Black governor. https://x.com/lukeradel/status/1801986550525211110
June 14, 2024: Robert Harding reports “@SarahKleeHoodNY continued her fundraising advantage in the #NY22 Democratic primary. Klee Hood, D-DeWitt, raised $274,572 in the pre-primary period (April 1 through June 5). She received $265,967 from individual donors. Her campaign spent $411K and has $279K cash on hand.” https://x.com/RobertHarding/status/1801780088108945621. @MannionforNY raised $187,455, including $153,096 from individuals and $34,100 from PACs and other committees. His campaign spent $354,140 and has $206,149 cash on hand. #NY22 https://x.com/RobertHarding/status/1801780424072437763
June 13, 2004: Sen. John Mannion announces “I am deeply honored to receive Mayor Young’s endorsement. His legacy of service and dedication to Syracuse is truly inspiring. I am committed to upholding the values of integrity, intelligence, and respect for the rule of law that he has always exemplified. #ny22″ https://x.com/MannionforNY/status/1801424625210900722
June 11, 2024: WKTV’s Luke Radel reports that former Utica congressman Mike Arcuri endorses @MannionforNY two weeks before the #NY22 Democratic Primary. Arcuri represented CNY from 2007-2011 in Washington. He won the seat after it was held by Republican Sherwood Boehlert for over two decades. https://x.com/lukeradel/status/1800516876415668461
June 7, 2024: The Town of Kirkland Democratic Committee Endorses Sarah Klee Hood for Congress
Statement from Katherine Collett, Town of Kirkland Democratic Committee Chair: The Town of Kirkland Democratic Committee endorses Sarah Klee Hood for Congressional District NY 22. She is the best candidate to represent our district in Congress, with her background as a veteran, a town councilor, a supporter of women’s reproductive health rights, and her work as an environmental policy expert who created hundreds of energy jobs. She has been endorsed by Climate Hawks Vote, VoteVets, Foreign Policy for America, Senator Tammy Duckworth, NY Representative Pat Ryan, and many other organizations and people. It is critical that in November voters reject our current MAGA representative, who has shown no interest in helping our communities and families. Sarah Klee Hood is the strongest and most inspiring candidate in the field, and we believe she would be an outstanding Representative for NY22.
Katherine Collett
Town of Kirkland Democratic Committee Chair
kirklanddemocrats@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/The-T
https://www.kirklanddemocrats.
https://secure.actblue.com/don
June 7, 2024: Letter to the Editor: Sarah Klee Hood is a Reproductive Freedom Champion
June 3, 2024: Hot Seat: Media Monday
In this episode of the Hot Seat: Media Monday, Sarah Klee Hood, a candidate in the Democratic primary for New York’s 22nd U.S. Congressional district, shares the unique aspects of her campaign’s media strategy. She delves into her motivations for entering politics, how her diverse background has equipped her for a role in government, and why she believes she has the backing of progressive primary voters. Click on the box below for the entire interview and video clips from interviews with the candidate and her supporters.
May 31, 2024: Sarah Klee Hood objects to mailer sent by Mannion campiagn “Posting a Letter to the Editor to his official account that tells a woman to wait her turn … he does realize that he’s in the Democratic Party, right?” https://x.com/SarahKleeHoodNY/status/1796704842812989597
May 21, 2024: Sarah Klee Hood releases advertisement sharing her personal experience with reproductive health care. Text: “While my husband and I were serving in the Air Force, we got devastating news about our pregnancy. I chose abortion care. Now, I am running for Congress in #NY22 to fight like hell for women & families because I have had enough of politicians who don’t understand the stakes.”
https://x.com/SarahKleeHoodNY/status/1792915032356897228
February 21, 2024: Indivisible Mohawk Valley Update: Brandon Williams Participates in Christian Nationalist “Circus”
Indivisible Mohawk Valley Update: Brandon Williams Participates in Christian Nationalist “Circus”
January 20, 2024: WHERE’S WILLIAMS? Constituents Deliver Balloon Bouquet to Unprepared Congressman’s Utica Office
WHERE’S WILLIAMS? Constituents Deliver Balloon Bouquet to Unprepared Congressman’s Utica Office
November 30, 2023 Luke Radel reports: BREAKING EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: @Brandon4ny22 shouts at and threatens his former campaign manager and chief of staff at a holiday charity event in DC. @RepWilliams: “You F*CK with my family, I’ll end every relationship that you have!” #NY22
September 14, 2023: Time’s Ticking Congressman Williams
April 27, 2023: Indivisible Mohawk Valley releases report on recent demonstration
Indivisible Mohawk Valley releases report on recent demonstration
April 14, 2023: Indivisible Mohawk Valley: Rep. Williams stifles constituent voices at third town hall
Indivisible Mohawk Valley: Rep. Williams stifles constituent voices at third town hall
July 13, 2023: Citrus TV News’ Luke Radel reports: “EXCLUSIVE: I asked @MannionforNY if he believes there should be any government restrictions on abortion: “Of course there should be.” @CitrusTVNews Hear his stance on the issue, plus why his Democratic primary opponent @SarahKleeHoodNY says she disagrees. #NY22 https://x.com/lukeradel/status/1679607590873886722
Ron Klopfanstein is an award winning multimedia investigative journalist, news and features editor, and creative content producer for the Utica Phoenix digital platform and 95.5 FM “The Heat” broadcast and streaming. He also hosts the Hot Seat: Media Monday every Monday at 5 pm, broadcast on 95.5 FM and streaming at 955TheHeat.com. Like him at Facebook.com/ReadRonKlopfanstein, Follow him at Threads.net/@RonKlopfanstein, Instagram.com/RonKlopfanstein, Twitter.com/RonKlopfanstein, Tiktok.com/@ronklopfanstein, and subscribe to his channel at YouTube.com/@RonKlopfanstein. Read all his work at Muckrack.com/ron-klopfanstein.
