For the first time in a quarter-century, state Senator Jim Seward may have a challenge in the Republican primary.
Town of Maryland resident Jim Blake is planning a campaign to unseat the longtime Senator even though he knows it's an uphill battle.
First elected to the Senate in 1986, Mr. Seward has been challenged only rarely in November elections. And the only time the Senator's been challenged for the GOP nomination was his first campaign in 1986, according to Jeff Bishop of his staff.
Mr. Blake is making his run "not because of what Jim Seward's done but because of what he's not done."
His main focus is cutting taxes and regulations, with the intent of creating jobs.
Upstate New York, Mr. Blake said, "has produced little wealth" during Senator Seward's tenure, he said.
"Albany should reduce regulations, reduce taxes and let us make a little wealth," Mr. Blake said.
Mr. Blake hasn't run for office before and has lived in Upstate New York for 11 years.
He was raised in Jacksonville, Florida and spent much of his working career in insurance in the Atlanta metropolitan area in northern Georgia.
There, Mr. Blake said, he "was very involved with politics," including working on Congressman Newt Gingrich's campaigns.
Business brought him to Rochester in 2001, and he started a telecommunications software firm. Later Mr. Blake moved to Maryland, where he cared for an ailing uncle the past seven years.
He decided to return to politics when his wife asked him where their son would work after graduating from Clarkson University.
"I thought about that for a moment and said, 'Well, not here,' " Mr. Blake said. "There are no opportunities here.
"I'm in this for our kids. I'm in it for the long haul."
He believes government should support local business and agriculture by encouraging local products to be bought and sold locally.
He also believes local governments should have more home-rule on issues such as hydrofracking.
"Do a risk/benefit analysis," Mr. Blake said. "Don't listen to the gas guys. Don't listen to the anti-hydrofrackers. Get good information and make your own decisions."
Finally, Mr. Blake favors term limits for officeholders.
"If you can't get it done in 26 years, you can't do it," he said, referring to Senator Seward.
Describing his campaign as grass roots, Mr. Blake called himself a strict Constitutionalist and said he has tea party members working for him.
And although he said there's great discontent in the 51st Senate District, support appears strong for Senator Seward.
So far, Mr. Bishop said, Republican committees in Herkimer, Otsego, Chenango, Otsego and Ulster have endorsed Senator Seward as their candidate.
Schoharie Republicans were to meet tonight, Wednesday.
Mr. Bishop said the Senator had no comment about Mr. Blake.
"At this point, the Senator's focus is on the legislative session," Mr. Bishop said. "Once that's over, he can turn his attention to politics."
Meanwhile, Mr. Blake is seeking signatures on his nominating petitions, which must be submitted in each county in the district July 9-12 for the September 13 primary.
"I want to rock the boat as much as possible," Mr. Blake said.