About 30 people protested a private fundraiser for incumbent Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) in support of Democratic congressional candidate Dana Balter on Tuesday evening, yelling at Katko supporters and encouraging passersby in cars to vote.

A TV advertisement that Katko released last week criticized Balter, saying she hasn’t paid taxes in Florida. The ad has several factual errors in it, including the house where she lived, Syracuse.com reported.

“We’re here because we’re outraged at the dishonest and deceitful advertising aimed at (Balter),” said Andy Mager, a Syracuse activist who was the first to arrive at the protest on James Street.

Katko hosted House Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday for a fundraiser at the Century Club, which constituents could attend for $1,000 per plate. As attendees of the fundraising dinner were walking into the Century Club, protestors yelled “Shame on Katko” at them.

Molly Gibbs | Photo Editor

Mager added that he and other activists assume Katko will spread more lies. Several of the chants at the protest included, “Ryan: Retiring, Katko: Lying” and “Hey hey, ho ho, Katko’s got to go.”

About 30 minutes into the protest, Balter came to the street corner where the protestors were stationed to speak for about five minutes about Ryan’s trip to Syracuse.

“I was hoping Paul Ryan would want to come and get to know us and get to know our community and visit with some of the folks in the city of Syracuse,” Balter said.

She said he isn’t here to know Syracuse, but just to support Katko and keep the Republican majority in the House.

“It is time to get rid of Paul Ryan and John Katko’s GOP and their efforts to undermine … the programs that are vital to working families of central and western New York,” she said.

Jonah Minkoff-Zern, an activist involved in CNY Solidarity Coalition, lead chants and conversations about the three politicians throughout most of the protest. He said Balter’s speech was completely separate from the protest.

Protestors were holding signs at the event that said, “#ShameOnKatko,” “Say no to Trump & Co.,” and “Katko will meet a retiring representative who wants to cut our Medicare but he won’t meet with us.”

Issues important to many of the activists at the protest included Medicaid, social security and taxes. Ryan supports rolling back Medicaid and social security. Syracuse Students for Change member Max Mimaroglu, 15, said he has tried but failed to make appointments to meet with Katko several times to talk about issues that were important to him, including concealed carry laws.

Activist Mary Kuhn, a proponent of Medicare, Medicaid and social security, said Ryan and Katko are both part of the problem.

“(Balter) speaks for me, she speaks for the people, she’s honest about the need for health care for all,” she said.

Minkoff-Zern also said the small-money donations and the protestors could help Balter win by voting.

“It’s the people power that’s gonna make sure John Katko doesn’t come back to Congress,” Minkoff-Zern said. “It’s the people power that’s gonna beat their lies.”

About 25 protestors have gathered outside the Century Club, where Paul Ryan is supposed to be speaking tonight at a fundraiser event for incumbent Congressman John Katko (R-Camillus). Here they shout, “Hey hey, ho ho, John Katko has got to go” pic.twitter.com/DaF3N05AgW

— Catherine Leffert (@ccleffert) October 16, 2018

Katko, the two-time incumbent representative, also hosted a fundraising dinner in June which Vice President Mike Pence visited, for $5,000 per plate lunches. Katko is the seventh most bipartisan member of the House of Representatives, according to the Lugar Center.

Balter has raised more than $1.5 million in funds for her campaign, which she said has come primarily in the form of individual, small-dollar donations.

“This campaign is for the people. And this campaign is powered by the people,” Balter said. “And that’s the essence of what democracy is, what our democracy is supposed to be. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve done and I’m incredibly honored to have the support of so many people.”

Published on October 16, 2018 at 10:42 pm

Contact Catherine: ccleffer@syr.edu | @ccleffert