The Onondaga Republican is challenging Democrat Dan Maffei in the 25th Congressional District.
View full sizeAnn Marie Buerkle, Republican candidate in the 25th Congressional District, greets House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, as he arrived today at a $500-a-plate fundraiser for Buerkle in Skaneateles. Buerkle is challenging Dan Maffei, D-DeWitt in the Nov. 2 election.Skaneateles, NY -- It was a full day Saturday for Ann Marie Buerkle, the Republican trying to unseat incumbent Rep. Dan Maffei in the 25th Congressional District.
First, Buerkle picked up the endorsement of House minority leader John Boehner, an Ohio Republican.
Second, she raised much-needed cash from a campaign fundraiser in Skaneateles at which Boehner was the key attraction.
Finally, as if all that weren’t enough, Buerkle, of Onondaga and the mother of six children, also welcomed a new son-in-law into her family. Her daughter, Amy, married Bobby Littrell in an afternoon ceremony at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Syracuse.
Boehner pulled up in a gray unmarked bus outside the Skaneateles Country Club just before noon, and left an hour and 15 minutes later. The fundraiser was closed to reporters; Boehner took no questions either entering or leaving the club grounds in the bus.
Buerkle spent about 20 minutes at the fundraiser after Boehner arrived, then left for her town of Onondaga home and the wedding. Later, the wedding party returned to Skaneateles for a reception at Anyela’s, a vineyard on West Lake Road.
“I was so pleased,” Buerkle said in an interview between her daughter’s wedding and reception. “Pleased with the turnout. Pleased with the reception Mr. Boehner got. Pleased with Jim Walsh, the honorary chairman.”
Walsh, who once held the Congressional seat now occupied by Maffei, served as honorary chairman for the event after Buerkle left for the wedding.
The $500-a-plate affair at the country club was one of the larger fundraisers for her campaign, which as of June 30 had about $150,000 left in its bank account. Maffei, D-DeWitt, has about $1.4 million.
Boehner could become House majority leader if the GOP wins control of the House in November. He has been campaigning across New York and Pennsylvania, visiting districts the GOP believes are competitive.
On Friday, Boehner headlined a fundraising event at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, where Republican Chris Gibson is challenging U.S. Rep. Scott Murphy, D-Glens Falls, in the Congressional 20th District.
John Stith can be reached at jstith@syracuse.com or at 251-5718.