From Stephen Williams of the May 6, 2020 Daily Gazette
113th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT — Washington County small business owner and conservative activist Jeremy Messina on Tuesday endorsed Dave Catalfamo for the 113th Assembly District, meaning there will be no Republican primary for the nomination to run against incumbent Democrat Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner of Round Lake.
The 24-year-old Messina decided not submit his qualified petitions to the state Board of Elections, and instead endorsed Catalfamo, who was a top aide to former Gov. George E. Pataki.
“Even though I dropped out of the race, I feel great backing David Catalfamo,” said Messina, who was endorsed by both the Saratoga County and Washington County Republican committees prior to Catalfamo entering the race. “Thank you so much to the Washington County and Saratoga County Republican committees for all your help and support. Together we will build a stronger and better New York. I know Dave will be vital in helping us repair our state!”
“As a small business owner with deep roots in Washington County, I am so grateful for Jeremy’s support,” Catalfamo said. “We have a shared commitment to ensuring our community has a strong voice in Albany to combat the reckless downstate interests that are ignoring our needs.”
The other Republican seeking the nomination was Michael York of Stillwater, who had his nominating petitions invalidated last week by the state Board of Elections after mainstream Republicans filed objections to his petitions. He said on Twitter that he would not endorse Catalfamo, whom be blames for orchestrating the objections to his petitions.
“I wasn’t given any deals, nor would I have accepted any,” he said on Tuesday.
Woerner is seeking her fourth two-year term representing the 113th Assembly District, which includes eastern Saratoga County and most of Washington County.
Catalfamo, 55, who is director of economic development for Oneida County, but has a long history in political consulting and lobbying state government in Albany, as well as high-level posts in the Pataki administration. He and his wife live in the Saratoga County town of Wilton.
From 2004 to 2006 he was director of communications for Pataki, overseeing the governor’s press and communications strategies and serving as a senior adviser to the governor. From 1997 to 2004, he was senior vice president at Empire State Development, Since the Pataki administration, he has worked primarily as a lobbyist and communications consultant in Albany.