Molinaro taps Gibson to run campaign
Former U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson will head Republican Marc Molinaro’s gubernatorial campaign.
In announcing his pick, Molinaro said Gibson, a three-term congressman who once considered his own run for governor, “embodies the high standards for integrity, commitment and service by which we will run this campaign and which we will ultimately restore to the state capitol in Albany.”
“Chris really does, for me, represent the very best of public service,” Molinaro said. “He’s a hardworking, decent, honorable guy with unquestioned integrity.”
Recently, Molinaro revealed that he cast a writein vote for Gibson during the 2016 presidential race.
Molinaro said Gibson will provide guidance and counsel to the campaign, ensuring that the campaign is organized and that the volunteers are motivated and organized.
“If you’re going to go to battle, I don’t think there’s a better person to lead the troops than Col. Chris Gibson,” he said.
Gibson joined the Army in 1986 and served two tours in the first Gulf War, rising to the rank of colonel. In 2010, he was elected to represent 19th Congressional District, which comprises all of Columbia, Ulster, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie and Sullivan counties, and parts of Broome, Dutchess, Montgomery and Rensselaer counties. He was reelected in 2012 and 2014. In 2015, Gibson announced he would not seek re-election to a fourth term, but said he would consider running for governor in 2018, but ultimately decided not to.
In a prepared statement, Gibson called Molinaro “the right person to clear the cloud of corruption that has descended over the governor’s office and restore New Yorkers’ faith in the future of our state.” He also said he was “honored” to serve as Molinaro’s campaign chairman.
Molinaro, who is currently the Dutchess County executive, is one of three Republicans seeking the GOP nomination. Also vying for the nomination are state Sen. John DeFrancisco and attorney Joe Holland. Gov. Andrew Cuomo is being challenged in his bid for re-election by Democrat Cynthia Nixon.
Molinaro said he has been endorsed by at least 36 GOP county chairs, representing more than 50 percent of the weighted vote of the Republican convention. The state GOP convention is scheduled to take place at the end of May.