ALBANY—The Buffalo News’ Bob McCarthy reports this morning that former boxer “Baby” Joe Mesi, who unsuccessfully ran for the State Senate against Mike Ranzenhofer, is now on the state payroll.
Austin Shafran, a spokesman for State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, told McCarthy that Mesi will work as the director of the new Buffalo regional office and will be paid $70,000 a year.
Kevin Hardwick, a professor of political science at Canisius College, thinks he sees where this is going.
“I think it’s brilliant on their part,” he said. “I had Joe on and interviewed him three times, twice in debate formats, and he’s a wonderful candidate. But the only thing he lacked was knowledge of the issues. It’s obvious to me that they’re prepping him for another run next year.”
