Caoitol Report: “All the Senators look at the 26th and say ‘no thanks’”
Posted: 02.14.2011 at 10:30 AM
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ALBANY -- The three State Senators considered possible candidates for the seat vacated by Christopher Lee have all dropped out of the race.   
 
Mike Ranzenhofer's name was floated earlier in the week, but he quickly put the kibosh on the idea.  Senator Joe Robach issued a statement Friday saying he wouldn't seek the seat.  And then, after publically weighing his options, Senator George Maziarz made the decision not to run as well.   This leaves the field wide open to a variety of non-senate candidates including Assembly member Jane Corwin, who is considered an attractive choice because of her ability to self-finance any campaign.   
 
There was tremendous pressure on the senators NOT to run.  Should any of these Republicans have decided to head to Washington, it would leave the Republicans here in Albany with one vote short of the 32 needed to pass legislation.  Plus there was that other thorny issue…
 
And finally, a senator leaving means that the Governor would have to call a second special election to fill that seat.  Of course if Corwin runs, he will have to call a 2nd special anyway.