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Canandaigua Town Supervisor Pam Helming was endorsed Wednesday by Republican Committees in  the 54th Senate District as their candidate to fill NYS Senator Mike Nozzolio's seat when he retires at the end of this term.  Helming won the endorsement after five rounds of voting by over 300 Republican committee members from the six counties within the district.  Tompkins County Legislator Mike Sigler (Lansing), who worked hard to obtain the endorsement, says he is now deciding whether to challenge Helming in a primary election.

"I'm now deciding whether or not to (run in a) primary or not," Sigler said.  "It was an interesting experience.  I didn't expect to make it off the first ballot, seeing as Lansing is 3% of the district, and I didn't.  I congratulate Pam on her win last night.  I believe the process did make the dozen or so candidates stronger."

Of a dozen contenders, Sigler is not the only candidate considering a primary challenge to Helming.  Businessman Floyd Rayburn of Ontario County reportedly has announced plans to challenge Helming in a primary.  The primary winner will face off against Town of Rose Supervisor Kenan Baldridge.  Baldridge received the endorsement of the six district Democratic committees in April.

"I am proud to be the endorsed Republican candidate for the 54th Senate District," Helming said.  "As the endorsed Republican candidate for Senate I am going to work with Republican Committee members and community leaders from throughout the Wayne-Finger Lakes region to get our positive message out. We need to fight for our way of life in Upstate New York. I will continue knocking on doors, and meeting constituents across the district to earn their votes."

Webster Deputy Town Supervisor Patti Cataldi, Waterloo Town Justice Christopher Folk, Walworth Army veteran Joe Geiger, Lyons Town Supervisor Brian Manktelow, Robert Massarini, Jon RitterWebster Republican Committee member John Tubridy and Tim Young were also in the running.

Nozzolio has served as a New York State Senator since 1992.  He served in the State Assembly for nine years before being elected Senator.  Earlier this year he announced he would not run again because he would be recovering from open heart surgery.

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