State Assemblyman Gary Finch on Thursday announced that he will seek re-election, and his likely challenger is the same person who ran against him in 2006.
Finch, a Republican from Springport who has held the 123rd Assembly District seat since 2000, made the announcement at Pine Hollow Dairy in Genoa.
“I chose to make the announcement from the farm because of the situation that farmers are finding themselves in because of huge diesel fuel costs,” Finch said later in the day.
He expressed his concern for farmers in Cayuga County and the state over fuel prices and the effects it could have on the state's top industry.
Finch's campaign said in a news release that as a senior member of the Assembly's Agriculture Committee, Finch would continue to advocate for agribusiness.
He was successful last year, the release said, in securing more than $60 million to assist dairy farmers at a time when milk prices were at a historic low.
Finch, an Auburn native, has owned and operated Brew-Finch Funeral Homes Inc. since 1970.
His career in politics started in 1979 as a trustee in the village of Aurora.
Barbara Abbott King, a Democrat from Aurora, said she's interested in running against Finch again but will wait until she's secured the Democratic Party nomination before announcing a campaign.
King said she's an “elections finance reform candidate” and that the state Legislature needs to address term limits for its members.
King ran her 2006 campaign on less than $3,000 and said that Finch's enormous advantage in campaign funds shouldn't be looked at as a factor.
“It's all about the relationship between the candidate and the community,” King said.
“People need to know that being a non-incumbent can be overcome. It's all up to the constituency.”
Cayuga County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Katie Lacey said Thursday that Finch “deserves to have an opponent out there who is questioning his record - or lack thereof.”
Lacey said that King, whose 2006 campaign was her first at any level, would make a good candidate.
“She had a good strong run last time on a very limited budget,” she said.
Lacey said voters in the district need to accept that minority members like Finch have “no active participation” in the Assembly and are therefor burdened with an inability to deliver for the district.
King, who earned about 40 percent of the vote against Finch in 2006, attended the state Democratic Committee meeting last week.
“It's going to be a dynamic election,” she said.
The 123rd Assembly District includes parts of Cayuga, Cortland, Chenango, Tioga and Broome counties.
“I chose to make the announcement from the farm because of the situation that farmers are finding themselves in because of huge diesel fuel costs,” Finch said later in the day.
He expressed his concern for farmers in Cayuga County and the state over fuel prices and the effects it could have on the state's top industry.
Finch's campaign said in a news release that as a senior member of the Assembly's Agriculture Committee, Finch would continue to advocate for agribusiness.
He was successful last year, the release said, in securing more than $60 million to assist dairy farmers at a time when milk prices were at a historic low.
Finch, an Auburn native, has owned and operated Brew-Finch Funeral Homes Inc. since 1970.
His career in politics started in 1979 as a trustee in the village of Aurora.
Barbara Abbott King, a Democrat from Aurora, said she's interested in running against Finch again but will wait until she's secured the Democratic Party nomination before announcing a campaign.
King said she's an “elections finance reform candidate” and that the state Legislature needs to address term limits for its members.
King ran her 2006 campaign on less than $3,000 and said that Finch's enormous advantage in campaign funds shouldn't be looked at as a factor.
“It's all about the relationship between the candidate and the community,” King said.
“People need to know that being a non-incumbent can be overcome. It's all up to the constituency.”
Cayuga County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Katie Lacey said Thursday that Finch “deserves to have an opponent out there who is questioning his record - or lack thereof.”
Lacey said that King, whose 2006 campaign was her first at any level, would make a good candidate.
“She had a good strong run last time on a very limited budget,” she said.
Lacey said voters in the district need to accept that minority members like Finch have “no active participation” in the Assembly and are therefor burdened with an inability to deliver for the district.
King, who earned about 40 percent of the vote against Finch in 2006, attended the state Democratic Committee meeting last week.
“It's going to be a dynamic election,” she said.
The 123rd Assembly District includes parts of Cayuga, Cortland, Chenango, Tioga and Broome counties.