Chris Tague is out of the Senate race, and Peter Oberacker is in.
A Schenevus resident, Mr. Oberacker announced his try for the Republican nomination to replace Jim Seward as Senator in the 51st District.
Senator Seward, in office for more than 30 years, chose not to seek re-election while he’s receiving cancer treatments.
Assemblyman Tague considered seeking the GOP nomination but decided not to.
That opened the door for Mr. Oberacker.
He’s been on the Otsego County Board of Representatives since 2015 and has been active in economic development.
In 2007, Mr. Oberacker created Form Tech Solutions and built it into a multi-million dollar business working with major companies internationally to develop new products and make them better and safer in the food industry.
In 2017, Mr. Oberacker moved his company’s international headquarters from Texas to Schenevus.
Before being elected to the Otsego County Board, Mr. Oberacker was supervisor of the Town of Maryland.
“Community service and giving back has always been a priority to me,” Mr. Oberacker said in a press release.
“Serving as Senator in the 51st district feels like a natural step and one that I am excited and ready to take on.”
Mr. Oberacker is a member of the Schenevus Fire Department and the EMS squad.
He graduated from Schenevus High School and SUNY Delhi.
Mr. Oberacker and his wife, Shannon, have two adult children.
If both candidates get their respective party nods, Mr. Oberacker will face Fultonham farmer Jim Barber in November. Mr. Barber announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in December.