Fairport, N.Y. – Assemblyman David Koon announced Thursday that he will not be running for the 29th District Congressional seat vacated by Eric Massa.
In a statement Thursday, Koon said, “The county Democratic Party chairs have all been very encouraging and responsive throughout the process and I am thankful for the opportunity for having met many of them. I have also received the backing of countless people, many of whom I hadn’t met before this process, and all of whom have been both generous and positive. Yet despite this, I have decided that now is not the time to seek higher office, and I am withdrawing my name from consideration to be the Democratic representative in the race for the 29th Congressional District.”
Governor David Paterson has yet to call for a special election to fill the seat, saying that no final decision has been, though it looks increasingly likely the seat will remain open until the November elections. Paterson said he hoped to schedule an election "as soon as possible," but three weeks later, the governor's tune has changed and many suspect politics is the reason.
Republican Tom Reed, the former mayor of Corning, remains the only candidate who has declared for the race from either major party.
