Three seek seat vacated by Assemblyman Lopez
Two major-party candidates and one person planning an independent bid have emerged to run in a special election for the 102nd Assembly District seat vacated by Republican Peter Lopez.
Greene County Legislator Aidan O’Connor Jr., a Democrat, and Schoharie town Supervisor Chris Tague, a Republican, have received their parties’ backing to run in the April 24 election. The winner will serve out the remainder of Lopez’s twoyear term, which ends Dec. 31, and would have to run again in November to keep the seat.
In addition to O’Connor and Tague, Schoharie County resident Wes Laraway is launching an independent bid to be on the ballot.
According to the state Board of Elections, parties must file certificates
of nomination by Feb. 15, while independent nominating petitions must be filed by Feb. 20.
The 102nd Assembly District includes all of Greene and Schoharie counties; parts of Otsego, Delaware and Albany counties; the town of Saugerties in Ulster County; and the towns of Stockport and Stuyvesant in Columbia County.
O’Connor is a fourth-generation resident of Greene County and minority leader of the county Legislature, according to a press release announcing his candidacy. A Durham resident, he was elected to the Legislature in 2015.
O’Connor has worked as a paramedic for Greene County EMS and LifeNet of New York. He received his paramedic certification at SUNY Cobleskill, where he teaches classes that train first responders.
Tague was born and
raised in Schoharie and was elected town supervisor in 2015, according to information he provided. He currently serves as Schoharie County Republican Party chairman and is the general manager of Cobleskill Stone Products.
Tague graduated from Schoharie Central School in 1987, then started his own dairy farm and grew it from 25 to 75 cows. He sold the business in 1992.
Laraway is a Middleburgh Central School teacher and wildlife rescuer.
He is a lifelong Republican, according to his Facebook page.
Lopez, R-Schoharie, stepped down from the Assembly after he was appointed Region 2 administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The appointment was announced in late September.
Lopez oversees environmental protection efforts in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Lopez first was elected to the Assembly in 2006.