In an unabashed demonstration of top-down democracy in action, the ten republican county committee chairs in NY's 20th CD have chosen current NYS Assembly minority leader James Tedisco to run to be their candidate in the race to replace Kirsten Gillibrand.
From the Albany Times Union:
"An ebullient Assembly Republican Minority Leader Jim Tedisco (R-Schenectady) launched his Congressional campaign on Tuesday, minutes after county chairman in the 20th District offered their backing in the race to replace Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand.
...
"If elected, Tedisco said his priority would be to help get the economy back on track.
"I know there is a slogan out there lately that says, 'Yes we can,' " Tedisco said, referring to President Barack Obama's campaign call.
"Yes we can, and now we will. Now we will turn this economy around,'' Tedisco said, adding that "jobs, jobs, jobs" would be his focus.
Tedisco bested former gubernatorial candidate John Faso as well as state Sen. Betty Little for the Republican slot in the upcoming special election."
To read about him and his voting record, you can view his profile at Project Vote Smart.
Not much more to say about him yet, but one things stands out to me. He doesn't even live in the district. (According to law, he only has to be a resident of the state, not the district.)He lives in Schenectady, which is in NY-21. Note that former congressman John Sweeney did not live in his district when he first ran for congress. I doubt that will be the only comparison that people make between the two of them