Golisano shaping local Senate races

Former candidate letting his money do the talking

The races for local seats in the New York state Senate, including the 59th district, will be influenced by the copious amounts of cash of former Gubernatorial candidate Tom Golisano.

Golisano has indicated that he will form a PAC aimed at supporting Dem candidates in upcoming Senate elections.  Golisano’s support is rumored as the impetus behind the supposed change of Erie County legislator Kathy Konst (D) from Congressional candidate to State Senate hopeful.  It is widely speculated that Konst will now turn her attention to unseating Dale Volker in the 59th SD with the backing of the Golisano PAC.

Interestingly enough it is Konst’s possible opponent, fellow 59th SD candidate David DiPietro (R), who has served as the only indicator that Konst is making a run at the seat:

According to former East Aurora Mayor Dave DiPietro (R), who is running a primary challenge to Volker, Konst’s husband, politically active attorney Harry Konst, told him last week that Golisano promised $1 million to support his wife’s Senate bid.

Harry Konst, who is managing his wife’s campaign, claimed he has not discussed the Senate bid with her and said he did not know who Golisano is.

Is she or isn’t she?  See our previous post on Konst for more on her joke of a campaign.

Another local candidate, Rick Dollinger, will receive backing from Golisano in his bid to unseat incumbent Senator Joe Robach (R).