Maziarz Decision Due Next Week
State Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, Niagara County, said he’ll announce a decision next week on whether to run for the 26th Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-Clarence, Erie County.
Sources say that the county chairmen in the district that runs from the Buffalo suburbs to Monroe County are all behind Maziarz, so it’s just a matter of whether he’s officially on board.
But it sounds like he’s in, if his wife will support the idea, he said. He would have to move into the district too.
“I’m thinking about it,” he said.
If Maziarz runs for Congress, he’d face either Democrat Jonathan Powers, Alice J. Kryzan or Jack Davis, a western New York businessman who already ran for the seat twice and is vowing to spend $3 million on it this time.
So Maziarz would have to start raising some cash. But he has a decent start—he has $738,726 in his Senate campaign account, which generally could be transferred into a federal campaign, according to elections officials.
If Maziarz runs for the House, though, that would leave one more open seat in western New York for Republicans to defend in the Senate. Already, GOP Sen. Mary Lou Rath has announced her retirement in the 61st District, which covers parts of Erie and Genesee counties.
Mazariaz’ 62nd District runs from Niagara County to the city of Rochester. Possible candidates for that seat include Democratic Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte of Niagara County and Republican Assemblyman Steve Hawley of Batavia.
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Please check your information. Most of the money in a state senate account CANNOT be transferred to a Congressional campaign account, because federal candidates cannot take corporate money. Most senators and members of the assembly in NY raise their dough from companies.
If Francine DelMonte runs, she’ll win. The Republicans can kiss the State Senate G’Bye.