As questions arose about U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson’s possible interest in a run for governor of New York Tuesday morning, fueled by a New York Times article suggesting he’s begun the groundwork, the congressman stuck to the matter that he’d traveled to Schoharie to speak about: urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency to fund the relocation of the Schoharie County Public Safety Building and jail destroyed in Tropical Storm Irene.
Afterward, he handled questions of a possible run for governor with consistent humility.
“That will be decision for the future,” he said. “I’ve said I would consider it; I haven’t promised it. But I think that myself and my team, we can make a difference in helping strengthen our party.”
For now, he said, in addition to putting his energy into representing the 11 counties of the 19th District, he’s helping to “revitalize” the Republican Party in New York state with speeches, candidate preparation, and help in fundraising.
Beyond specific issues, he believes that the revitalization of the Republican Party in New York is important in creating a functioning two-party system in the state.
“We haven’t won statewide really since 2002,” he said. “To the extent that we can breathe new life into our party and to compete and to win statewide, I believe that at the end of the day, whether you’re Republican or not, this is going to be in the best interest of our state.”
Joining him in Schoharie Tuesday morning were state Assemblyman Pete Lopez, R-Schoharie, and state Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, who have expressed interest in succeeding Gibson when his term expires at the end of 2016.
Both of the local lawmakers’ districts overlap with Gibson’s congressional district, with Lopez and Seward currently representing about half the counties included in the 19th.
Jeff Bishop, a spokesman for Seward, said later Tuesday that the senator is “still in the consideration stage” and will likely make an announcement “at some point in time.”
“He hasn’t made any final decision as of yet,” said Bishop.
Lopez has been more certain of his intentions.
“I’m hoping to make an announcement within the next month,” he said Tuesday. “My main focus is on doing my job as an assemblyman, so I put my full-time energy into that.”
Almost immediately after Gibson announced he would not run for a fourth term in office — he believes in term limits, in his case self-imposed — Lopez said people were encouraging him to run.
“Out of the 11 counties that Chris represents, I already represent six of those counties, so people know me, they trust me,” he said.
Although it’s too early for an endorsement, the chairman of the Schoharie County Republican Committee, Lewis Wilson, said Lopez has his personal support.
“We haven’t met to discuss it, but I feel that the committee probably would agree with me,” he said. “We’ve had a very successful period of time with Pete as he’s moved up and progressed through the various chairs that he’s occupied. We think very highly of him. We think he’s doing an outstanding job.”
Lopez and Seward may be joined by a third candidate, former state Assemblyman John Faso. Faso was the Republican candidate for governor in 2006, but lost to Democrat Eliot Spitzer.
“I’m considering it, but it’s too early to say anything beyond that,” he said Tuesday. “I’ll make a decision sometime over the summer.”
Categories: -News-, Schenectady County
