If the race for the 51st State Senate were held today, it would pit Democrat Jim Barber against Republican Peter Oberacker.
Although there’s still time for other candidates to announce, those two appear to be the frontrunners in their respective parties to replace longtime incumbent Jim Seward.
In office for 34 years, Senator Seward announced in January that he’s receiving cancer treatments and won’t seek re-election.
But Senator Seward still has a hand in the race.
He endorsed Mr Oberacker, an Otsego County legislator, for the GOP nomination last week.
“As a successful small business owner, Peter knows firsthand the challenges our state faces,” Senator Seward said in a press release.
Assemblyman Chris Tague, who at first considered running for the Senate seat, also endorsed Mr. Oberacker.
A recent candidate screening by Schoharie and Otsego county GOP leaders unanimously supported Mr. Oberacker, though neither county party has formally done so, Assemblyman Tague said.
Mr. Tague, who also chairs the Schoharie County Republican Committee, said the committee was to meet Monday night.
“Pete’s got the experience as a county legislator, and he’s a successful individual,” Assemblyman Tague said. “He’ll make a great candidate.”
A Schenevus resident, Mr. Oberacker has an international company that works with other firms to develop new, safe products in the food industry.
He was elected to the Otsego County Board of Representatives in 2015 and before that was supervisor of the Town of Maryland.
Mr. Barber, a Fultonham farmer, has strong support, too.
The Schoharie County Democratic Committee endorsed him in mid-February, and Ulster County Democrats followed suit last week.
“He’d be the only farmer in the whole Senate,” said Cliff Hay, the chairman of the Schoharie County Democratic Committee.
“Farmers need help. Farmers need someone on their side. Jim’s a good candidate and is smart enough to do the job.”
But Mr. Hay was candid about Mr. Barber’s chances to win in a district that’s heavily Republican and re-elected Senator Seward every two years.
“When the registration’s against you, it’s tough,” Mr. Hay said. “We’re going to give him all the help we can.”
Like Mr. Oberacker, Mr. Barber has experience in government. He was the state executive director for the federal Farm Service Agency for seven years and served as a special assistant to the state Ag and Markets Director for two years.
Mr. Barber also developed the first Farm to School food program that became a national model.
The 51st Senate District includes all of Schoharie, Otsego and Cortland counties and parts of Tompkins, Herkimer, Chenango, Cayuga, Delaware and Ulster counties.