Albany County DA to have November challenger

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jill Bryce

A Republican challenger to incumbent Albany County District Attorney David Soares has filed a petition with the Albany County Board of Elections to get on the November ballot.

Roger J. Cusick filed a petition by today’s deadline with 2,157 signatures to run on the newly created Integrity Party line, established by the Albany County Republican Party. He surpassed the requirement of 1,500 signatures for an independent nominating petition.

The petitions can be challenged for three days and if no objections stand, Cusick will be on the Integrity Party line for the November election.

“I think the people of Albany County need to be able to trust that the district attorney will do the right thing every time and has the ethical compass to show justice is served for all,” said Daniel Farrell, Cusick’s campaign manager.

John Graziano Sr. recently took over as chairman of the Albany County Republican Party and said his priority was to offer an alternate candidate in the race for district attorney. It was too late to have a Republican candidate on the ticket because the filing deadline of July 10 had passed, so the GOP launched the new party.

Cusick, 58, of Loudonville, ran against Soares in 2004 and lost. He also ran against Albany County Executive Michael Breslin in 2007 and was defeated.