With roots in Buffalo and boxing, Tonawanda native and former number one heavyweight contender of the world Joe Mesi hopes to defend UB students and those residing in the state's 61st district from being pulled down by the sinking economy.
Mesi was brought into a conference room in Clemens Hall on Monday night to directly address students in an event called "Pizza and Politics", organized by several student-run groups.
On Nov. 4, the general election will determine the contest for retiree Mary Lou Rath's current seat on the state Senate between Democratic nominee Mesi and Republican nominee Michael Ranzenhofer, an Erie County legislator.
In a quick and terse delivery of what he hopes to accomplish as a state senator, Mesi focused on relative student concerns such as the cuts to UB's state-subsidized budget. Mesi stressed that as senator he would sway the board in Albany, so that no further cuts to local higher education will be made.
State funding makes up about 20 percent of UB's $1 billion budget, Mesi said. Cuts across the board will affect the university gravely, especially in comparison to small-scale SUNY schools.
"[UB] needs a greater percentage of state aid to help pays its bills. UB has more research work and other expensive programs not covered by tuition," Mesi said.
UB is an economic catalyst in Western New York, according to Mesi. As a senator, he will push investments in the university.
Mesi addressed what he calls a darker time in Erie County as politicians in the last decade vowed to close libraries, community colleges and health care clinics as an answer to the current economic crisis.
"We need to believe that if we invest more in our universities and community colleges that we can create jobs... and get the people a chance to stay here that choose to stay here," Mesi said.
Mesi wants to bring back opportunities to the people living in this region that were available to him growing up. He also wants to relieve pressure on students trying to afford an education.
"One of the most devastating impacts of the Republican-led Senate has been the inability to deliver more tuition relief for our families," Mesi said.
Mesi introduced his five-point higher education plan that would implement tuition relief, start strategic investments to local universities and community colleges, and fund alternative energy at UB.
"Our universities are the key to building a better future, certainly in Western New York and certainly in my district. This university is the key," Mesi said.
Supporting the research and development of alternative energy resources at UB and at other local colleges will be two-fold.
"We need to make Western New York a great industry, not only manufacturing parts, but also providing green industry jobs," Mesi said.
Mesi stated that UB plays a key role in the region's remedy and agreed with a statement recently made by President John B. Simpson stating that is not the university's fault that the state is in physical crisis.
Investing in UB would be the main point of his plan, he said, and every $1 million spent on research and development at UB creates 29 jobs in the area.
The final goal in Mesi's five-point plan will be forging a connection of community colleges to local businesses.
"It needs to be tied in with the local businesses to make sure that people can acquire the skills that employers are looking for," Mesi said.
Mesi explained that his passion for the area where he grew up and is currently residing as the drive behind his campaign.
Mesi said reading a newspaper article about Rath's retirement triggered his desire to give back to the community by getting involved with the state Senate.
"People are leaving Western New York left and right. Between the vacated seat, my brother losing his job and they're talking about making drastic cuts across the board, like my opponent is, that kind of frightened me a little bit," Mesi said.
His inexperience in politics should not be a hindrance for voters because it is untrue, Mesi said. He stressed that he knows how to target the region's potential.
Attendees were mostly members of the sponsoring clubs that brought Mesi to the university.
President of the UB's Environmental Network Jordan Gerow, a senior economics and English major, was there on behalf of his club in support Mesi as the next state senator. He was attracted to the candidate's proposals of defending the environment.
"We're familiar with his campaign and his platform. His environmental platform is pretty progressive and he is endorsed by the Western New York Climate Action Coalition," Gerow said.
During the presentation, Mesi said environmental issues would be tackled by a Green-Collar Council that he would put together as a state Senator.
The UB College Democrats were one of the sponsoring clubs that wanted to bring Mesi to the students to increase interest on campus for Election Day.
"With student enthusiasm for elections at its highest with this presidential election, hopefully we can carry it over to the local elections like this race where the student vote really matters," said Nicholas Orrange, president of the club.
In the state of New York, there are 62 senators that sit on a board headed by Gov. David Paterson. The Republican Party has had a majority of membership in the senate since 1965.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
