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Freshman Assemblymember Dr. Steven Katz (R,C- Yorktown) is considering mounting a bid for the seat currently held by State Senator Greg Ball (R,C-Patterson).
Katz's wife, Nicole, confirmed Sunday that her husband, who was elected in November 2010, is giving "serious consideration" to a run for State Senate in the 40th District.
She cited constituents' concerns as the main impetus behind a possible run, "I speak to many voters in the district on a daily basis, and it's a very common thread in that many people have become very troubled by Greg's behavior during this past year." She went on to add, "Some of the main concerns that I've been hearing are that the Senator's class war rhetoric is very troubling, his anti-energy stance, and most troubling--his shopping his vote on same-sex marriage." Nicole Katz did not give a timeframe for her husband's decision on whether or not to run against Sen. Ball.
The two Republican lawmakers were virtually inseparable on the campaign trail in 2010, and were often at the same appearances while running for their respective offices. Both had also received strong support from members of the Tea Party in Westchester.
That support appears to have eroded in recent months, after Katz's wife Nicole released a video entitled, "The Salad Bully" after Ball reportedly unfriended her when she left some critical comments on his Facebook page. While the video doesn't mention Ball specifically, it parodied what Nicole Katz said was her "silencing" after the Senator allegedly removed her comments.
Sen. Ball did not address questions from The Daily Yorktown directly, but rather issued a statement Sunday from his Chief of Staff Jim Coleman, "Greg is an advocate for taxpayers, veterans, small business owners and working families, was just ranked New Yorks top rated conservative senator and has delivered ethics reform, the lowest middle class tax rate in three generations, a property tax cap and a repeal of the MTA payroll tax. Its unfortunate that a fellow Republican, who hasn't even finished his first term, would work to help the New York City Democrats gain control of this seat by pushing an unnecessary primary. He has done little in Albany, earning the nickname of Dr Do Little, and has a track record of flip flops, broken promises and liberal stances. "
Coleman concluded, "The Senator is focused on job creation, tax relief and delivering for the district, and he will maintain that focus for the rest of his term, primary or no primary."
Late last year, Democrat Justin Wagner, an attorney from Croton-on-Hudson, announced he plans to run for Ball's seat.
The 40th State Senate District includes portions of northern Westchester, all of Putnam and parts of Dutchess County.
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