Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - No one saw it coming.
For the last several weeks, there has been silence from Erie County Republicans about a candidate for the upcoming special election to fill the Congressional seat recently vacated by Brian Higgins in Washington, D.C.
That was until Wednesday.
Party officials gathered with reporters at their Downtown Buffalo headquarters on Wednesday to announce West Seneca Town Supervisor Gary Dickson as the GOP endorsed candidate to run for the state's 26th Congressional district.
"I'm running because the public deserves a choice. Our next congressman should not be anointed by the Erie County Democratic Committee. It's an election, not a coronation," said Dickson.
Dickson will face New York State Sen. Tim Kennedy, who has already received the nomination from the Erie County Democratic Committee for the seat.
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Dickson is an Army veteran and a retired FBI agent.
"Gary Dickson is an 'A' list candidate," said longtime Republican strategist Carl Calabrese, who was a guest of David Bellavia on WBEN Wednesday.
"He has done some really interesting political things in West Seneca. He took a democratic town and turned the town board over. It's now a Republican town board. He has shown that he has political skill and he has shown that he can reach across the aisle and attract democrat and independent votes and that's going to be the key to any chance of winning this seat."
"I'm running for the residents of Buffalo, particularly East Buffalo, who have seen politicians come and go and nothing has really changed," said Dickson. "I'm running for the residents of Amherst and every other city, town and village in the district who feel they are being taxed to death. And I'm running for the residents of Cheektowaga who were not consulted before migrants were put in their town."
65 year old Dickson also said he is realistic about his chances. The 26th congressional district is the 'bluest' district outside of the New York City area.
"The town of West Seneca," he added, "is technically a blue town. But three elections in a row have shown that my brand of governing is what residents want. I'm offering the same dedication to make government work for the taxpayers and residents of the 26th congressional district."
A special election for the seat will be held Tuesday, April 30.