By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Republican Christopher Jacobs announced his candidacy Tuesday for the special election in the 60th State Senate district. Jacobs is a member of the Buffalo Board of Education.
He said he'll campaign against what he describes as a "bloated" state government that is holding back progress in Western New York.
Jacobs will face Democrat Marc Coppola in the February 28th election to fill the vacancy created by Byron Brown's election as mayor. Democrats hold a six to one enrollment edge in the district. But Jacobs says as part of the Republican majority in the Senate, he can do more.
"Certainly, people have to realize the reality that if they had someone from the majority in the majority in the Senate that that person has a much better likelihood of delivering," Jacobs said. "We don't have any time to waste. I believe I can be an impact player immediately in Albany. That is something the voters need to take into consideration."
Should he lose the special election, Jacobs says it's too soon to say whether he would try again in this Fall's general election.
In another development, attorney Kevin Gaughan has announced he's withdrawing as the Working Families Party candidate in the special election.