Barber Raises Over $125,000

Don Barber Raises Over $125,000 to Challenge Jim Seward for NYS Senate 51
Barber says, "People want a change of leadership in Albany."

Brooktondale, NY -- Don Barber, (D) Caroline Town Supervisor, reported having raised $126,400 from more than 750 individuals to unseat 22 year Republican incumbent Senator Jim Seward in NY State Senate District 51. The district includes all or parts of 7 counties extending from the Hudson River to Tompkins County to north of Old Forge.

These funds represent a significant war chest this early in the cycle and are enough to launch a major upset in the battle to win the seat.

"I am honored to have support from people all around the district, who are asking me to run because they want a change," said Barber. "People want someone who will better represent our interests. Jim Seward has been part of the dysfunction in state government for 22 years. We need someone who will fight for our environment, health care, education, and developing the new economy for rural New York."

Barber, who is a farmer, small business owner and six term Supervisor in the Town of Caroline, is well-known throughout the district and is a significant figure on numerous environmental and inter-municipal cooperation projects. He is chair of the Tompkins County Council of Governments, Secretary of the Board of Governors for NYMIR (NY Municipal Insurance Reciprocal), and serves on the Board of Directors for both the Community Foundation of Tompkins County and Tompkins County Area Development.

Seward, who chairs the insurance committee and is Majority Whip, has been called Joe Bruno's right hand man during the last two decades of Albany gridlock.

Though Barber hasn't announced he is running, he has been meeting with groups and committees from all corners of the district.

General frustration and voter dissatisfaction with Republican policies and special interests have been cited as causing the district to swing. This sprawling seven county district has varied party registration but has recently turned two formerly Republican Congressional seats to Democratic (Arcuri and Gillibrand) resulting in every voter being represented by a Democratic Congressperson. A large effort is mounting across the state to change the State Senate from Republican to Democrat and end the gridlock attributed to Bruno and top Republicans such as Seward.

Insiders are saying Don Barber is a strong challenger and this is a key race to watch.