GOP hopefuls line up for seat
Four Republicans aim to succeed retiring state senator
TROY, N.Y. » The unexpected announcement that Halfmoon Republican Kathleen A. Marchione will not be seeking reelection for New York Senate District 43 has opened up the field for several Republicans.
A bigger voice
Among those seeking the Republican nod is Chris Boyark, a veteran of the Air Force who once ran for state Assembly in 2014. He is seeking the Republican nomination.
“He wants to be a bigger voice for upstate New York,” said Jer- emy Messina, Boyark’s campaign manager. “He feels like we are are getting the short end of the stick.”
Boyark currently manages a retail store in Clifton Park, and owns a bar in Saratoga which he has plans to sell.
“As a former candidate for state Assembly I ran to protect the in-
terest of my constituents from the Petri dish of poisonous progressive proposals being pushed by downstate democrats,” Boyark said in a statement. “With one prominent Republican elected official after another deciding not to step forward to do the same in the wake of Senator Kathy Marchiones’ surprise retirement, I feel duty bound to offer myself to neighbors in the 43rd state senate district. We must hold this seat, and every other, at all costs or the destructive agenda of NYC Democrats will wash over this state and hammer home the final nail in the coffin of Upstate New York”.
One of the things Boyark would like to do is repeal and replace the Common Core educational standard. He also favors term limits for those in the state Senate as well as Congress.
Free the market
Another candidate seek- ing the Republican nomination is Gerard Zabala, of Wilton, who would like to see more free- market principles in play which he feels would boost the upstate New York economy.
“My main focus shall be revitalizing the upstate economy by simplifying regulations, reducing the tax burden and utilizing the power of the free enterprise system to generate jobs and revenue,” he said in a statement. “While I have worked briefly in private industry, public service for the citizens of the State of New York has been the key focus of my professional career, and I intend to continue to serve in this capacity as evidence by my announcement...”
He said many business owners and would- be entrepreneurs are often frustrated and stifled by the complex system of regulations they must follow. He said making things simpler would allow the free market to do its work.
Zabala has worked for the state Senate in the Journal Clerk Office, Senate Research Service, Lo- cal Fiscal Impact Office and Senate Finance. He’s also been the executive director of the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority. Semi- retired, he currently sits on the Wilton Zoning Board of Appeals, is vice chair of the Wilton Republican Committee, and has been involved with the Schenectady Jaycees, the Saratoga Springs Lions Club, and the Knights of Columbus.
A regular person
The Senate needs more regular people, says Stillwater Republican Lisa Bruno.
Bruno, no relation to former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, grew up in south Troy and was elected to the Town Board in Stillwater in 2007, taking office in 2008. She also serves as deputy town supervisor. Her career has been spent working for the New York State Senate. She worked under former Sen. Roy McDonald, who preceded Marchione in the 43rd district.
She feels her 20 years as a Senate staffer have given her a great deal of insight into how the Senate works. “I have a lot of experience down there in a lot of roles,” Bruno said. “I’m running because I feel I’m very qualified.”
Bruno said that outside her career, her life in general has given her a perspective that’s needed in Albany. Raised by foster parents, Bruno said she grew up poor, and as a single mother — who maintains a good relationship with her ex- husband — she knows what it’s like to raise children and put them through school.
“I grew up poor in public housing, I’ve always had a job, I’ve always worked, I feel like I represent the average person,” she said. “I believe in the values of the Republican party, especially fiscally.”
Bruno said she’ll be working to reduce the number of unfunded mandates passed down to smaller governments by the state. She also believes in term limits for all levels of government, saying many problems right now are caused by representa- tives having made careers out of running for public office.
Unfunded mandates
Eric Wohlleber, of Poestenkill, is also running.
“I am running for state Senate to be a fiercely independent fighter for Upstate New York,” the Republican said in a release. “I pledge to work tirelessly to oppose the out- of- control taxation which is leveled against all New Yorkers.”
He said these taxes come largely in the form of unfunded mandates, but also took issue with increasing the minimum wage, which he said affects everyone from small businesses to local governments.
Albany, he said, is notorious for coming up with things that cost money then expecting county, city, and town governments to find ways of paying for it. “We often have to do some editing to make them work with our budgets,” he said. Wohlleber sits on the Town Board in Poestenkill.
“We need a better economic development plan that brings jobs back to the Empire State. Current economic plans have led to rampant corruption, which now sees the Governor’s highest ranking officials getting ready for prison,” he said.
Wohlleber’s background is largely in communications. He started out as a journalist, got into public relations, worked for the Senate, and is now the communications director for Hixny, a healthcare tech company.
Wohlleber said personal liberties, specifically Second Amendment rights, are important to him.
Pr i mar y elections, where necessary, will be held Sept. 13, while the general election is Nov. 6. Prospective candidates have until July 12 to file for being on the ballot.
According to the New York State Board of Elections, the 43rd Senate District has a population of 293,228 people. Roughly, it covers parts of Rensselaer and Saratoga counties and all of Columbia County.
No Democrats have officially entered the race.