Who will run to replace Walsh?
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Within hours of Jim Walsh's retirement announcement, there was a crowded field of potential candidates.
“Those names will be put on a ballot and they will be at our convention which will probably be sometime middle or 3rd week of April,” said John DeSpirito, Onondaga County Republican Chairman.
But, the focus has been on two figures from opposite ends of the 25th congressional district. In Onondaga County, where 60 percent of the district's votes lie, long time District Attorney William Fitzpatrick says he will decide quickly whether or not to run for the job.
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“I've got a campaign structure, fundraising capability, already in place and ready to go. My name recognition in Onondaga County is in the 90 percentile range. And, I'm actually pretty well known in Cayuga and Wayne counties as well,” said Fitzpatrick, a republican.
That leaves a small portion of Monroe County and the chairman of the party there says Monroe's County Executive should be considered.
“Maggie Brooks is one of the most popular elected officials in the history of this community. And she's served the people well,” said Stephen Minarik, Monroe County Republican Chairman.
“You never say never, but it would take a lot of thought and it would be a big decision,” said Brooks.
Both Brooks and Fitzpatrick say they are weighing the pros and cons of entering the fray.
“Do I want to be in Congress more than I want to be DA? Have I been DA long enough? Could I continue to serve Central New York in Congress? The answer to that last question is, I think, yes, I could. And I think about my office. You know there's 50 people here or more whose jobs depend on me,” said Fitzpatrick.
For Brooks, the question of whether to walk away from her current job and head to Washington at a tough time for the GOP.
“All of those weigh in to any decision. We'll maybe look at that. I'm just not sure. It's too soon to even say whether it's of interest,” said Brooks.
The county executive and the DA say their final decisions should come soon.
On the democratic side of the race, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee again stated its support for candidate Dan Maffei, the same contender who came close to beating Jim Walsh in 2006. But, Maffei could face a challenge now for an open seat. Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll says he is giving serious consideration to a run for congress.