Erie County Legislator Tim Kennedy, a Democrat who is challenging incumbent State Sen. William Stachowski, won the endorsement of the Erie County Conservative Party Executive Committee on Thursday evening, but it wasn’t an easy decision.

“We’ve endorsed Bill at least 14 times,” County Chairman Ralph L. Lorigo said, “but in this case we had a great deal of division. The dysfunction of Albany worked against him.”

Lorigo said that the committee was most impressed with Kennedy’s right-to-life stance and his promise to make economic development and job creation a primary goal. Assemblyman Jack Quinn Jr. also sought the endorsement.

“He [Kennedy] stated that he would have a small-business development specialist working from his office,” Lorigo said. “He’s also showed that he could work across party lines.”

In another contested endorsement, Conservatives gave their nod for County Court judge to Kenneth F. Case, a former prosecutor who ran for district attorney in 2008, favoring him over City Judge James A. W. McLeod and Lancaster Town Justice Mark A. Montour.

Conservative leaders also split over whom to endorse for Quinn’s Assembly seat, finally approving Democratic County Legislator Dan Kozub over three other candidates.

The other Conservative endorsements were unanimous, including the choice of former county GOP head James Domalgalski over former Sheriff Patrick Gallivan for State Sen. Dale Volker’s 59th District seat.

Endorsed for the House of Representatives were incumbent 26th District Rep. Chris Lee; Leonard Roberto, the Republican challenging Rep. Brian Higgins in the 27th District; and Republican Jill Rowland, who is running for Rep. Louise Slaughter’s 28th District position.

Endorsed for the Assembly’s 140th District was incumbent Robin Schimminger, a Democrat; 142th District incumbent Jane Corwin, a Republican; 143th District incumbent Dennis Gabryszak, a Democrat; 145th District incumbent Mark Schroeder, a Democrat; and 148th District incumbent James Hayes, a Republican.