CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. — New York State Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb (R–Canandaigua) today announced he is running for New York governor in 2018.
He is the first Republican candidate to formally announce a bid to win the party’s nomination to challenge Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) as he seeks a third term next year.
Kolb, 65, is a former small-business owner who has served as Assembly minority leader since 2009 and been a member of the Assembly since winning election in 2000. He represents the 131st Assembly District, which encompasses all of Ontario County and parts of Seneca County.
Kolb said he’s running on a platform to lower taxes, create jobs, and end corruption.
“Corruption and dysfunction in Albany have transformed our state for the worse and left many feeling powerless to fight back — that ends today,” Kolb said in a news release. “As a proud native New Yorker, I believe in our state and I’ll stop at nothing to fix it. We deserve leadership that will foster growth in our economy and replace corruption with accountability. I’m running for Governor because I believe New York’s greatest days are ahead of us and, with the right leadership, we can make that happen now.”
Other Republican candidates considering a run for governor next year include businessman Harry Wilson, New York State Senator John DeFrancisco (R–Syracuse), Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, and former Erie County Executive Joel Giambra, according to Spectrum News.
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Photo credit: Brian Kolb for New York Facebook page
