New York Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb of Canandaigua is ending his campaign for governor, according to a press release issued late Friday. The Republican, who was in a field that also includes Sen. John DeFrancisco and former Erie County Executive Joel Giambra, said he was not prepared to spend the next year on the road campaigning. Some GOP officials had backed DeFrancisco in recent days, and Kolb had complainedthat state committee chair Ed Cox was not giving his campaign a fair shake.Here is Kolb's full statement:
"It is with a heavy heart that today I am announcing I am ending my campaign for Governor of New York.
As I left my home before dawn this morning, saying goodbye to my incredible wife, I knew that I'd be spending the next week, the week after, and every week for at least the next nine months on the road, away from my loving family. That moment helped put what is truly important in life back into perspective.
The last few months have been an incredible journey, and I am very grateful to so many friends, volunteers, activists, business and community leaders, and donors for their support. It has been humbling to have the support of so many Republican County Chairs and State Committeepeople from all across our state.
I will continue to serve the people of New York as Assembly Leader and look forward to continuing to fight for lower taxes, good jobs for New York families, and an end to the corruption in the Cuomo administration."
