Elbridge Town Supervisor Ken Bush Jr. did not receive the county Republican Committee’s endorsement for Legislative District 13, but he might not be out of the race. The county Republican Committee recently gave its endorsement to Van Buren Town Councilor Derek Shepard over Bush and former Camillus Town Councilor Dan Stanistreet. Both have said they are considering a Republican primary challenge against Shepard. “I’m still thinking things over, I guess,” Bush told the Observer Friday June 3. “I’ve got a while yet to decide.” Bush and Stanisstreet have until July 14 to gather the 339 signatures required if they want to challenge Shepard. Bush said he was disappointed not to receive the Republican Committee’s endorsement.
“I thought out of the candidates that were being considered I, by far, had the most experience in local government, and the county legislature is desperate to have somebody that has had experience at the local level,” Bush said. “It’s a partnership between town, village and county … It has appeared to me these last few years that that partnership has not been enhanced.” The race for the District 13 seat was opened up when Onondaga County Legislator Robert Warner announced three weeks ago that he would not run for re-re-election, saying he did not expect to get the county Republican Committee’s endorsement. Warner, who has held the seat for nearly 22 years, has since said he might run on the Conservative Party ballot line. Jim Scaramuzzino, of Van Buren, has the county Democratic Committee’s endorsement for the seat.