City Councilman and mayoral candidate Vince Anello went straight to the top when looking for an individual to run his campaign. All the way to the White House, in fact.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Daniel Bristol, who has been serving as George W. Bush's chief of staff in the White House Office of Administration, was named by Anello last week as his campaign manager.
Clearly, Bristol brings a lot to the table. Born and raised in Niagara Falls, he spent most of his career both in and out of the military in Washington, D.C.
He joined the Air Force in the mid-'70s to do what he could for our country. A blue-collar kid with a lot of ambition, he kept on trying to improve himself. Degrees in economics and business management from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., combined with stuff he learned at our country's Air War College, helped to produce a man of unique talents.
He eventually went to Spain, where he matriculated at the Valencia School of Economics and Law.
And, along the way, Bristol happened to pick up some of our country's highest commendations, including the Legion of Merit and the Air Force Commendation Medal (with an oak leaf cluster).
When George H.W. Bush was elected president in 1988, he asked Bristol to give him a hand with security at the inauguration. When Pope John Paul II visited America, Bristol was again called upon to manage the event. And when the president's son, George W. Bush, became president after the disputed election of 2000, he asked Bristol to become a member of his team, as assistant chief information officer.
That last part was, of course, after Mayor Irene Elia had turned him down for the job as city administrator here in Niagara Falls.
You see, despite his credentials, despite his management experience with the 107th Air Refueling Wing, at the headquarters of the Air Force in Washington, D.C., in the House of Representatives and at the White House -- and despite the fact he loves Niagara Falls and wanted to return -- Bristol said something the mayor couldn't stomach.
In their final interview, Bristol told Elia he wouldn't knowingly do anything he knew to be wrong, despite whatever orders he had from anybody. And that was it. They never spoke again.
I'm sure he said the same thing to whomever interviewed him in Washington. And, as much as I've been critical of the two Bush administrations over the years, I've got to hand it to them for the canny knack displayed in hiring a guy like Lt. Col. Danny Bristol to handle their affairs.
After lending support to Niagara County Republican Chairman Henry Wojtaszek's underfunded but surprisingly vigorous congressional campaign last fall, Bristol's desire to return to his boyhood home deepened.
On St. Patrick's Day, he retired from federal government service for good to assist with the Anello campaign. He owns a home in the city's South End, less than a five minute walk from the casino. "Where the action is," he said.
"I wanted to come home and I wanted to be involved," Bristol told the Reporter. "I looked at all the candidates, and there's not a doubt in my mind that Vince has the most to offer the city."
Citing his candidate's honesty, long record of public service and strong work ethic, Bristol pointed out that Anello would be the only one of the four major mayoral hopefuls who would suffer a pay cut on taking office in January.
Anello has steadfastly refused to discuss possible appointments, but it's probably safe to say Bristol would have a top spot in his administration.
One of the most important aspects of leadership is choosing the right people to be around you. This has been one of the most critical faults of the Elia administration, since the mayor has surrounded herself with advisors who are afraid to give her any advice.
In tapping Bristol for the top spot in his campaign, Anello has shown a desire to associate himself with the best people he can find.
And in Niagara Falls, that's something different.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | April 1 2003 |