State Sen. Catharine Young, R-Olean, announced on Thursday she plans to support Sen. John DeFrancisco of Syracuse for governor.
Young, R-Olean, chairman of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee and Senate Finance Committee chairman, represents the 57th Senate District.
She joins a dozen other Senate Republicans including Sen. Patrick Gallivan of Erie County in endorsing DeFrancisco, the assistant majority leader.
Earlier this week, Cattaraugus County Republican Party Chairman Robert Keis Sr. said he was leaning toward one of DeFrancisco’s Republican gubernatorial opponents, Assemblyman Brian Kolb of Canandaigua.
Keis said Kolb, DeFrancisco and former Erie County Executive Joel Giambra will meet in a debate Saturday at Daemen College in Amherst.
The county Republican chairman said he would probably make an endorsement in the governor’s race next week.
Cattaraugus County Legislature Chairman James J. Snyder, R-Olean, is one of two Republican state committeemen from Cattaraugus County.
“I’m going to support John DeFrancisco for the Republican nomination for governor,” Snyder told the Olean Times Herald Thursday. While they have never met, Snyder said he liked DeFrancisco’s background and experience. It’s a bonus that DeFrancisco is a graduate of Syracuse University, Snyder’s alma mater.
Sue Fries of Salamanca, the former county Republican election commissioner, is the other Republican state committeeman representing Cattaraugus County. She did not return a call seeking comment before press time.
Assemblyman Joseph Giglio, R-Gowanda, also did not reply before press time to a message seeking comment on the candidate he’s backing in the governor’s race.
In her enthusiastic endorsement of DeFrancisco, Young said he had the experience, vision, commitment and integrity to be governor. “These qualities define the character and the career of my friend and colleague, Senator John DeFrancisco, who I enthusiastically endorse for governor of the State of New York.”
Why not Kolb?
Young said that while both DeFrancisco and Kolb are upstate representatives, as a former Senate Finance Committee chairman, DeFrancisco “is very familiar with fiscal issues and has a deep understanding of the state budget.” Senate Districts are larger and more diverse.
In addition, Young said, with Gov. Andrew Cuomo sitting on a $26 million campaign fund, whoever is nominated to run against the Democratic governor “will have to spend a lot of time on the road and raise a lot of money,” which DeFrancisco can do.
Young said, “During his 25-year tenure in the Senate, he has been a tireless advocate for initiatives aimed at spurring job growth and economic opportunity in every corner of New York, but particularly upstate which has been his lifelong home. Landmark laws he authored have enhanced the health, safety and quality of life for countless New Yorkers.”
“I am proud to endorse his candidacy,” Young added.
(Contact reporter Rick Miller at rmiller@oleantimesherald.com. Follow him on Twitter, @RMillerOTH)
