Dollinger Expected to Run, Koon Still Deciding
-
- January
- 25
Former Democratic state Sen. Richard Dollinger is expected to run against Republican Sen. Joseph Robach this year, a source said.
Dollinger, a Brighton town judge, has refused to discuss his plans because he currently serves on the bench. However, Dollinger has apparently been talking up his candidacy privately in recent weeks and an announcement could come within a month, according to a source.
Democrats view Dollinger, who served in the state Senate from 1993 to 2002, as one of their best hopes in trying to win control of the Senate from Republicans. Republicans hold a two-seat majority.
Even though party enrollment heavily favors Democrats in the 56th District, Robach has been easily elected to the seat since 2002—when Robach switched parties as an assemblyman and sought to challenge Dollinger. Dollinger decided not to run.
Assemblyman David Koon, D-Perinton, meanwhile, says he’s still contemplating whether he’ll challenge Sen. James Alesi, R-Perinton. Koon said he wants to wait until after the presidential primaries and a special Senate election in the Watertown area to decide whether he will run.
Gov. Spitzer just annouced the date of the special election. It will be Feb. 26.
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on Friday, January 25th, 2008 at 11:24 am by Joseph Spector.
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Jay Gallagher has covered Albany for Gannett News Service since 1984 and has been Albany Bureau chief since 1989. He`s a native of the Boston area and likes to point out that in this millennium, the score is Red Sox 1 championship, the Yankees 0. 
Cara Matthews has been a statehouse correspondent in the Albany Bureau since August 2005. Prior to that, she covered Putnam County government and politics at The Journal News for nearly five years. Before that, she worked at newspapers in Connecticut and covered the state Legislature for one of them. 
RE: Rep. Jim Walsh insisted he’s retiring to spend more time with his family, not because he faced a tough re-election fight this fall……
Perhaps this is true, perhaps not…….
Unannounced retirement like this makes you wonder.
I know Walsh voting record was one of the worst as a member of the GOP against President Bush. Many stories were being published about this.
Which caused many on the right flank upsetment and throwing heat at Walsh.
Rep. Walsh was going to feel the attack from BOTH sides this time in the upcoming elections, meaning the Dems and from his right flank……(Voters on the Conservative Party Line)…..
I know in fact, Walsh was also feeling the heat from Conservative Party Leaders in the Counties he represented. BTW…He was a nice guy.
Jim Kelly – NY Conservative Campaigns