In light of Senator Joe Bruno’s announcement that he will not seek re-election in the 43rd Senate District come November, a number of new contenders for the seat have thrown their hat into the ring.

The original race was intended to pit Senator Bruno against Brunswick lawyer Brian Premo; however, that was before Bruno shocked local residents and politicians by announcing he would not seek re-election - prompting several local Republicans and Democrats to announce their intentions to run for the vacant seat.

On the Republican side, Assemblyman Roy McDonald, R-Wilton, and Nassau Councilman Ray Seney are revving up their campaigns to full throttle - circulating petitions to get the 1,000 signatures needed to be eligible for candidacy.

McDonald made his formal announcement to run for state Senate at Congress Park in Saratoga Springs on Wednesday, July 2. He was previously endorsed by Senator Bruno and Saratoga County Republican Chairman John “Jasper” Nolan to fill the vacant seat.

At Wednesday’s announcement, McDonald was joined by several local legislative leaders including Saratoga Springs Mayor Scott Johnson, Waterford Supervisor Jack Lawler, Assemblyman James Tedisco and New York State Senator Elizabeth Little of the 45th Senate District.

“I am saddened to see our leader Joe Bruno step aside, but he couldn’t have found a better candidate to succeed him than Roy McDonald,” Senator Little said. “Roy is a person who comes from the people, he listens to the people and he gets his issues from the people - he really is a man of the people.”

McDonald was born and raised in Rensselaer County and has been a longtime resident of Saratoga County. He was raised in “meager beginnings,” growing up in a family of steel laborers.

He too worked in the same steel mill while he put himself through college and contributes much of his success of lifting himself out of poverty to his education, which he completed at SUNY Oneonta.

“Roy has never forgotten the beleaguered and squeezed middle class,” Assemblyman Tedisco said. “He has been a fighter for the people who don’t have a voice and he will continue to be a fighter for those people in the 43rd District.”

If elected Senator, McDonald told the group of supporters that he intended to continue working on the same projects, legislation and programs that he has championed as an Assemblyman, which include economic development, low property taxes and continuing his fight on autism - an issue that is close to his heart because his two grandchildren have been affected by the disease.

“I am focused on dealing with the people right now,” McDonald said. “I want to talk about the different programs I will be setting up for autism, veterans, agriculture and education. I am going to be vibrant in these areas to say the least.”

McDonald is currently a representative of the 112th Assembly District - a position he has held since 2002. He said that he is confident that Republicans will maintain their one-seat majority in the state Senate after the fall elections.

“When Joe Bruno retires, we will lose the greatest advocate Upstate New York ever had. He equalized the playing field.” McDonald said. “We are going to retain senate majority because you can’t have one party running the whole thing - a two-party system is the American way.”

Aside from Republicans, there have also been several new Democrats who have decided to enter the race. Just this past week, Saratoga County Supervisor Joanne Yepsen announced her intentions to accumulate the necessary signatures needed to be eligible for candidacy.

“I have been overwhelmed with all the support I have received at both the city and county level,”

Yepsen said. “Right now we are focused on getting the necessary signatures and money needed to support my candidacy.”

Yepsen, who is serving her second term as supervisor, said she felt compelled to seek the open seat because of the crises that face the region and the state at this time.

“The 43rd district deserves a candidate that is for them,” she said “People are ready for a change.”

Yepsen will be in downtown Saratoga Springs on Saturday during the city’s July 4th All-American Celebration from 2-5 p.m. collecting signatures.

Mike Russo, District Director for Congresswoman Kirstin Gillibrand, D-Greenport, also announced his intentions to seek the open seat on Monday, June 30.

“I am grateful for the outpouring of encouragement to run for the Senate seat which will be vacant due to Sen. Bruno’s retirement,” Russo said in a press release. “After much consideration, I have decided that this is a unique opportunity to bring the same level of open, honest and transparent government that we have worked to achieve on the federal level to state government.”

Brunswick lawyer Brian Premo was formerly endorsed by Saratoga County Democrats before either Yepsen or Russo announced their intentions to run for the senate seat. Premo previously tried to run against Bruno in 2006, but was left off the ticket when he made a late party switch.

Yepsen and Russo must gather at least 1,000 signatures before the July 10 deadline to be eligible for candidacy.

Currently, there are 77,258 registered Republican voters and 58,856 Democrats in the 43rd senate district.