Schenectady County Legislator and business owner, Jim Burhrmaster will announce his candidacy as a Republican candidate in the 21st Congressional District at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 19 at the Burhmaster Energy Group headquarters in Scotia, according to a press release.
Jim took time to speak with his family and friends and the community and he’s very encouraged, said Josh Hills a spokesperson for Buhrmaster’s campaign.
Buhrmaster, 62, announced his interest in the seat currently held by Mike McNulty, D-Green Island nearly two weeks ago.
He is currently the only Republican who has declared candidacy.
Schenectady County Republican Chairman Tom Buchanan noted that Buhrmaster would be the first Congressman to hail from Schenectady since Democrat Sam Stratton left office in 1990.
`Not often do you have a candidate of John’s caliber,` said Buchanan. `He’s a successful businessman and has a great opportunity here.`
Burhmaster was elected to a second term as county legislator last year in District 3, which represents residents of Niskayuna, Glenville and Scotia. Burhmaster is a lifelong resident of the Scotia-Glenville area, where he lives with his family.
On the Legislature, Burhmaster is the only Republican who chairs a committee. He chairs the Transportation Committee. He is also a member of the Scotia-Glenville Republican Committee and serves as treasurer of the Schenectady County Industrial Development Agency.
Though registered as a Republican, Buhrmaster said that in his county races he has gained the endorsements of the Conservative and Independent parties.
`I’ve always done what I think is right,` said Buhrmaster.
Last week, Buhrmaster said he would stand up for the interests of small businesses in his campaign.
`Government regulation is stifling small businesses,` said Buhrmaster, `and small businesses are still a major part of the engine that keeps the economy running.`
In his five years on the County Legislature, Buhrmaster said he has also fought for his taxpaying constituents.
`The taxing system is wrong and it’s out of control,` said Buhrmaster. `While it might not change overnight, someone has to start trying to decrease spending.`
But Buhrmaster also said that a successful Congressional candidate would listen to the public.
`I’ll be meeting with the public, finding out their concerns,` he said, of his potential campaign. `That’s the first step.`
Earlier this month, retired Saratoga County Treasurer Chris Callaghan, confirmed reports that he will not seek the Republican nomination in the 21st Congressional District.
Callaghan said he’d recently met with Buhrmaster.
`He seems like a solid candidate, and he’ll make an excellent Congressmen,` said Callaghan.
Callaghan, who lives in Waterford, said he will now focus his attention on organizing John McCain’s Capital District campaign. McCain endorsed Callaghan when he ran for state comptroller in 2006, a bid he lost to Democrat Alan Hevesi.
Though Callaghan said he has no immediate intentions to run for another office, he said he will always stay involved in politics.
`I will continue to make fun of the pompous whenever I have the opportunity, continue to fight for conservative principles whenever I have breath and continue to call fraud hot lines whenever necessary,` said Callaghan in a statement.
Republican Warren Redlich, who was elected to the Guilderland Town Board in 2007, his first public office, had announced in December that he would seek a Congressional nomination, but in a February interview with The Spotlight,
Redlich said he would withdraw his candidacy in light of his new position as town councilman and in order to spend more time with his family. Redlich unsuccessfully ran against McNulty in 2004 and 2006.
Like Redlich, Buhrmaster will face an uphill battle in a district that is overwhelmingly Democratic.
For more on Burhmaster’s announcement, pick up an upcoming print edition of the Spotlight Newspaper.
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