Two Monroe County politicians today announced their intent to run for State Senate less than one day after Republican Jim Alesi announced that he will not run for re-election in the 55th District.
Hoping to fill his seat are Democrat Ted O'Brien, of Irondequoit, and Republican Sean Hanna, of Mendon.
O'Brien, 55, is the former chair of Monroe County Democratic Committee and now serves as the minority leader of the Democratic caucus in the county legislature.
Although the 55th District includes his hometown of Irondequoit and part of Rochester, O'Brien said he is eager to connect with voters in other parts of the district, which extends as far as Naples, Ontario County.
"This is a district I feel comfortable running in," said O'Brien. "I think this is a district that's ready to embrace a Democrat."
The GOP currently has the majority in the Senate. O'Brien, who works as an attorney in Rochester, said that although he's running on the Democratic ticket, he's hoping to gain support from moderate voters in both parties.
"I think this is a new wind blowing, and I want to be part of that," he said.
Hanna, known for his conservative voting record, was elected to the state Assembly in 2010, where he represents parts of eastern Monroe, Livingston and Ontario County.
He formerly worked as a prosecutor in the County District Attorney's office for six years prior to being appointed to serve as executive director of the DEC.
Hanna chose not to comment on Alesi's incriminating lawsuit against a Perinton couple that ended in trespassing charges, or his vote to support gay marriage. He instead pointed to unemployment and economic challenges facing taxpayers as key issues.
"Anything that happened with Jim Alesi had nothing to do with the Republican party," said Hanna. "I don't care if you're a Republican or a Democrat — the people in the 55th Senate District want jobs."
Two Monroe County politicians today announced their intent to run for State Senate less than one day after Republican Jim Alesi announced that he will not run for re-election in the 55th District.
Hoping to fill his seat are Democrat Ted O'Brien, of Irondequoit, and Republican Sean Hanna, of Mendon.
O'Brien, 55, is the former chair of Monroe County Democratic Committee and now serves as the minority leader of the Democratic caucus in the county legislature.
Although the 55th District includes his hometown of Irondequoit and part of Rochester, O'Brien said he is eager to connect with voters in other parts of the district, which extends as far as Naples, Ontario County.
"This is a district I feel comfortable running in," said O'Brien. "I think this is a district that's ready to embrace a Democrat."
The GOP currently has the majority in the Senate. O'Brien, who works as an attorney in Rochester, said that although he's running on the Democratic ticket, he's hoping to gain support from moderate voters in both parties.
"I think this is a new wind blowing, and I want to be part of that," he said.
Hanna, known for his conservative voting record, was elected to the state Assembly in 2010, where he represents parts of eastern Monroe, Livingston and Ontario County.
He formerly worked as a prosecutor in the County District Attorney's office for six years prior to being appointed to serve as executive director of the DEC.
Hanna chose not to comment on Alesi's incriminating lawsuit against a Perinton couple that ended in trespassing charges, or his vote to support gay marriage. He instead pointed to unemployment and economic challenges facing taxpayers as key issues.
"Anything that happened with Jim Alesi had nothing to do with the Republican party," said Hanna. "I don't care if you're a Republican or a Democrat — the people in the 55th Senate District want jobs."
