59TH DISTRICT
Konst decides to seek Volker’s seat in Senate
Erie County Legislator Kathy Konst said Thursday that she will run for the State Senate this fall, rather than Congress, and oppose Republican Sen. Dale M. Volker of Depew.
Konst, a Democrat from Lancaster, will first have to fight through a Democratic primary. The Erie County Democratic Committee is backing Elma lawyer Timothy J. Pawarski to face Volker. A third Democrat, Thomas P. Casey, also intends to again challenge Volker this year in the 59th District.
Konst, a second-term legislator, had considered running for the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds, R-Clarence. In a news conference Thursday, she said a poll indicated that she would do well in that race.
She said she had been asked to run for the State Senate in what could be a pivotal election year, when Democrats could take control of the Senate by gaining just one seat.
Konst has talked with billionaire B. Thomas Golisano, owner of the Buffalo Sabres, about the political action committee he has formed to back candidates willing to express a new way of thinking.
“He agrees with me about our vision for upstate New York,” she said.
Konst said that she has no understanding with Golisano about financing her race but that when a community leader is willing to promote accountability and transparency in government, “that’s a good thing.”
Later, another county legislator running for higher office criticized Golisano’s PAC.
Legislator Michele M. Iannello, a Kenmore Democrat running for the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Mary Lou Rath of Williamsville, challenged one of her opponents, Democrat Joe Mesi, to reject Golisano’s money:
“Just because Mr. Golisano and Mr. Mesi call it reform doesn’t make it so. In fact, it is just the opposite. It is nothing more than politics as usual.”
