Buerkle On a Roll

So far, it has been smooth sailing for Republican congressional candidate Ann Marie Buerkle. She has picked up the endorsements of the Conservative Party in Wayne, Cayuga and Monroe counties. Now she walks away with an endorsement from the Monroe County Republicans as well. The Monroe County Committee was the first Republican organization to weigh in on the race in the 25th congressional district. The Onondaga, Wayne and Cayuga GOP organizations will select their favorite at separate conventions on Wednesday night. The Onondaga County Conservative Committee will weigh in on Tuesday. Ann Marie Buerkle definitely appears to be the favorite for the nomination, but there will likely be a primary between Buerkle and Lysander businessman Mark Bitz.

Nick Pirro is Supporting Andrew Russo

Good times continue to roll for Republican State Senate candidate Andrew Russo. Former Onondaga County Executive Nick Pirro is supporting Russo’s candidacy for State Senate. This is big news heading into Wednesday night’s GOP Convention, where Republican committee people from several counties will be designating a candidate to face Democrat State Senator David Valesky in the 49th State Senate district. With Pirro backing him, Russo can make a strong argument for his candidacy before the committee and Russo has long been the favorite to win. Even if the party picks Russo as their candidate, he likely still faces a primary in the form of Syracuse businesswoman Jessica Crawford and/or East Syracuse Mayor Dan Liedka.

Cayuga County Conservative Committee Chooses Candidates

The Conservative Party in Cayuga County released two endorsements today. In the 49th District State Senate race, they announced their support for Republican candidate Andrew Russo. Russo has already received the support of the Conservative Parties in Madison and Onondaga counties. Oneida County has yet to make a decision. Republicans in all counties in the district will be selecting a candidate next week.

Also receiving the endorsement of the Cayuga group is 25th congressional district hopeful Republican Ann Marie Buerkle. Buerkle has already received the support of the Wayne County Conservative Party. The Monroe and Onondaga Conservative Parties have yet to endorse a candidate in that race. This news comes on the heels of an endorsement of a former rival and an announcement that Buerkle is the first and only candidate in the race to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

Maffei Gets His Wish

Last September, Congressman Dan Maffei urged fellow Democrat Governor David Paterson not to run for a full term because he felt it would hurt his own re-election chances. Maffei reiterated that wish yesterday. It seems that today, his wish is coming true. The Governor is set to announce that he will be suspending his campaign, opening the door for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to enter the race. The general election will almost certainly be between Cuomo and Republican Rick Lazio.

Manlius Town Councilor Running for Assembly

As I posted several weeks ago, a Clay businessman named Don Miller is running as a Republican against Assemblyman Al Stirpe in the 121st Assembly District. I was unable to find much information about him. Now I have discovered that there is yet another Republican in the race: Manlius Town Board member Sandra Schepp. Again, not much is out there relating to her candidacy. I discovered her on a list of candidates attending a Candidate Meet & Greet event in Pompey.

As an elected official with some ties to the party and the community, I expect her to be in a strong position to receive the Republican endorsement at the GOP convention. I’d like to add that the Republicans will apparently NOT be endorsing Assembly candidates at their convention next week, but at a later time. (You’ll also notice on that candidates list the mysterious new entrant to the 25th congressional race, Mario Paolini.)

Bitz Officially In

Republican businessman Mark Bitz held an “official” campaign kick-off event today. He hopes to run for New York’s 25th congressional seat, currently held by Democrat Dan Maffei. His major competition for his party’s nomination is former Syracuse Common Councilor Ann Marie Buerkle, who kicked off her campaign two weeks ago. One of the two will receive the party designation next week. Bitz was most recently in the news when he decided to close the doors to his popular Plainville’s Nature Fare Restaurant in Cicero, with 35 employees losing their jobs as a result.

On a side note, I have been informed that someone named Mario Paolini, of Fabius, is also seeking to run for Congress as a Republican.

Antonacci for County State Comptroller?

Just as Republicans around the state seemed to be coalescing around Harry Wilson, the only announced candidate for state comptroller, it appears that a second man is thinking about making a run. That second man is none other than Onondaga County’s own comptroller, Bob Antonacci. He has given himself a late-March deadline to make a decision as he talks to party officials around the state. This is an interesting development, because as I mentioned, it seems the Republicans already have a consensus candidate. Remember too that Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney has been discussed as a possible Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor and Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick has been discussed as a possible Republican candidate for Attorney General. I’m quite interested to see how this develops.

David Gay Makes an Endorsement

According to her Twitter feed, Republican Ann Marie Buerkle has secured a big endorsement in her quest to unseat Congressman Dan Maffei, a Democrat. David Gay, a fellow Republican who, until he switched races, was also hoping to be the Republican congressional candidate, is backing Buerkle. This adds to Buerkle’s momentum going into her party’s nominating convention, which will be held in a few weeks.

Nicotra Not Running After All

In a race that now has three Democrats in the running, the single Republican who expressed some interest has announced that he will not be making a run for the seat. Salina Supervisor Mark Nicotra has taken his name out of consideration, leaving Republicans with a glaring deficiency in a rare race for an open seat. There is still time for a top tier Republican to get in the race. My guess is that East Syracuse Mayor Dan Liedka is feeling the pressure to drop his State Senate race and go after this seat, although he has previously denied any interest.

Russo Builds Support

Last night, the Onondaga County Conservative Party took a straw poll to gauge support for candidates in the 49th State Senate district. It is being reported that Republican Andrew Russo received 11 out of 15 votes. This support (not technically an endorsement) from the Conservative Party, in addition to the amount of money Russo has raised, put Russo in a strong position to win his party’s nomination at their March convention.

. . . and so is Phil LaTessa

Somehow I missed this earlier today when I published my previous post. Syracuse City Auditor Phil LaTessa will be running for Joan Christensen’s vacant Assembly seat. At this point, I think it’s safe to say that he is the frontrunner on the Democrat side, perhaps even the favorite to take the seat (at least until a top-tier Republican like Mark Nicotra or Dan Liedka jump in). He also appears to be the only candidate with an active website, although there isn’t anything there yet. I’ve just noticed something else, too. We are discussing the 119th Assembly seat and this is the 119th post on this blog. Just something to ponder.

Sam Roberts is Running for Assembly . . .

Former County Legislator Sam Roberts, a Democrat, will be joining announced Democrat candidate Jane Fahey-Suddaby in the race to replace retiring Assemblywoman Joan Christensen. Still no word on whether Republican Mark Nicotra has decided to join them.

Buerkle Makes it Official

Republican Ann Marie Buerkle has made an official announcement that she is running for Congress against incumbent Democrat Dan Maffei. This announcement comes as no surprise as Buerkle made it clear she intended to run months ago. She now officially joins fellow Republicans Mark Bitz and Paul Bertan as they seek the nomination of their party at a March convention. Buerkle has already received the endorsement of the Wayne County Conservative Party.

Anti-Climax in 50th State Senate Race

There are a couple pieces of news in what has so far been a quiet race in the 50th State Senate district. Longtime Republican incumbent Senator John DeFrancisco had a press conference last week to make a major announcement. At the start of his speech, he seemed to indicate an intention to retire. Not so. The Senator made it clear that he will be running for re-election this year and that he intends to win. On the Democrat side, County Legislator Tom Buckel, who has been considering a run for several months, decided not to pursue the seat. In other words, we are right back where we started. A Democrat may yet surface to challenge DeFrancisco, but it would be an uphill climb.

Onondaga County GOP Chairman Makes Endorsements

Onondaga County Republican Chairman John DeSpirito has announced his support for two candidates for statewide office. In both cases, the candidates are the only announced Republicans in their respective races. For governor, DeSpirito endorsed Rick Lazio. Some of you may remember late last year when DeSpirito was one of the many county chairs who urged Erie County Executive Chris Collins to run for governor. Collins eventually decided not to take the plunge. On the U.S. Senate side, DeSpirito announced his support for Bruce Blakeman, who visited Syracuse just a few weeks ago.

Salina Supervisor May Run for Assembly

All has been relatively quiet on the 119th Assembly front since the initial hullabaloo after Assemblywoman Joan Christensen announced her retirement. There is some news to report, however. Salina Town Supervisor Mark Nicotra, a Republican, is considering joining the race. Republicans must be excited about their prospects here because open seats for state office don’t come around too often and Mr. Nicotra would be a superb candidate if he decides to run. He’ll have to watch out, though, as the Democrats have an excellent candidate in City Auditor Phil LaTessa, if he ultimately decides to take the plunge.

Gay Switches Gears

David Gay, who had been preparing run for Congress against freshman Democrat Dan Maffei, has dropped out of the race - and into another one. Mr. Gay leaves three other Republican candidates behind to battle over the right to take on Congressman Maffei and becomes the first (and so far, the only) Republican to announce a campaign against Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli. You remember Bill Magnarelli, right?