Young Republican campaigns to reduce taxes, regulation
Churchville Republican Dorollo Nixon Jr. is stressing business growth in his campaign for Congress.
Dorollo Nixon Jr. came home from practicing as a lawyer in the Middle East and realized that his hometown needed help.
The 33-year-old, who grew up in Chili and now lives in Churchville, is running for Congress on a platform of reducing regulations and taxes. He said his legal experience will help him craft laws that affect American commerce.
“One of the prime aspects of my campaign I want to emphasize: Create sustainable jobs here that will help revitalize our community before we go the way of Buffalo,” Nixon said.
“I’d rather go to Washington and remove these road blocks that the Obama administration and Congress are throwing in the way of American business,” he said.
Nixon hopes he would would be running against Rep. Kathy Hochul in the 26th District, which includes Churchville, though he knows that the lines of the district will be redrawn by Albany power brokers. He is looking for support among fellow evangelical Christians and young voters.
The 26th District currently spans rural counties and suburbs of Buffalo and Rochester, and the largest portion of voters live in Erie County. A Republican primary could be likely, depending on the way the district is drawn.
The son of two career educators, Nixon lived abroad for almost half of the last decade, teaching French in South Korea and practicing international arbitration in Dubai with the New York City law firm Chadbourne & Parke, known for its global commercial work and notable lawyers such as former Gov. George Pataki.
“Dorollo was very outgoing here,” said Daniel J. Greenwald III, managing partner of Chadbourne & Parke’s Dubai office.
“He was very visible in a very good way.”
While Greenwald doesn’t agree with all of Nixon’s conservative political and social positions, he said Nixon would bring integrity and drive to the office. He said he knew that Nixon kept current with news about U.S. public policy while he was in Dubai.
When the economy went into recession, Nixon lost his job. He now works on a contract basis with clients in New York City, though he hopes to find work locally.
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Republican David Bellavia, an Iraq War veteran and author who lives in Batavia, Genesee County, is also considering a run in the 26th District. Former Erie County Executive Chris Collins and Amherst Town Supervisor Barry Weinstein have been mentioned in news accounts as being interested in running for the seat. If the district skews to the Southern Tier, and is drawn into what is now the 29th District, represented by fellow Republican Tom Reed, Nixon said he won’t wage a primary.
Monroe County Republican Chairman Bill Reilich said he has not seen the lines but has heard that the 26th District might be drawn out of Monroe County, but the 29th District would stay. Every two years, Reilich hears from people who are interested in running for Congress that have never run for any local office, he said.
“I applaud their enthusiasm and desire but most of the time the individuals have no idea of what’s required,” Reilich said, adding that he encourages them to get involved in their local political committee.
This year’s congressional races will be especially tough for a challenger because of the many uncertainties related to waging a successful campaign. These go beyond fundamental questions of what the district will look like. Candidates will need to pass petitions to get on the ballot, but can’t do that until new lines are released. The petition deadlines and number of signatures required are subject to change by the state Legislature.
As the rules now stand, party conventions and passing petitions are at least a 10-week process.
The districts may not be finalized until March, and the congressional primary is scheduled for June 26.
Hochul, D-Amherst, Erie County, is expected to be a formidable opponent and, following her May special election victory, has quickly been able to raise more funds than her area House peers.
Nixon has created a campaign finance account but has not reported raising funds. Fundraising is an “ongoing effort,” and he expects he will be competitive, he said.
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