Molinaro leaning against House bid

January 28, 2010

Jenny Lee-Adrian
Poughkeepsie Journal

Assemblyman Marc Molinaro, R-Red Hook, said he wants to remain focused on his work, but is not ruling out running for the 20th Congressional District seat held by Rep. Scott Murphy, D-Glens Falls.

Molinaro said he's been asked by party leaders and elected officials across the district to run. The 20th Congressional District covers all or parts of Dutchess, Columbia, Delaware, Essex, Greene, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties.

Molinaro has steadily moved up in politics from a Village of Tivoli trustee to village mayor to county legislator to assemblyman for the 103rd District.

The assemblyman said he would need to think through what a congressional candidacy would entail. He said, however, that he's leaning toward staying where he is.

"There are enormous challenges facing the Hudson Valley and state of New York," Molinaro said. "I'm making progress in my work in the state Assembly."

Molinaro said he has obligations, including his 5-year-old daughter and an 8-month-old son. A spokesman for the state Republican Committee could not be reached Wednesday for comment.

A spokesman for Murphy, Josh Schwerin, said the congressman "is committed to building on his first year by fighting for our middle class and working to get our fiscal house in order."

Republican Dan Stec, supervisor of Queensbury, Warren County, is considering a run for the seat, according to his Twitter page.