By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – At-Large Buffalo Common Council Member Charley Fisher announced his candidacy for the State Assembly Monday.
Fisher was joined by family and friends outside the Apollo Theatre to say he plans to run for the seat now held by Deputy Assembly Speaker Arthur Eve. With Eve retiring after 35 years, Fisher declared himself the front-runner in a Democratic primary race against County Legislator Crystal Peoples.
He said his strategy will be to reach out to the community.
"There are at least 12,000 households that I have to visit," Fisher said. "There are at least 1,000 organizations I have to contact."
Fisher said he chose the revitalized Apollo as the site for his announcement, because it represents what Jefferson Avenue once was and what it can be again.
"Just down the street will be a new Tops Markets," he proclaimed. "Also planned is a state of the art library. Jefferson Avenue can come back."
Fisher said he would push an agenda as an Assemblyman that would help Jefferson Avenue and other struggling city neighborhoods and business districts.
Eve has said he won't make an endorsement in the race to succeed him. But Fisher did say many Eve supporters were in attendance at his announcement. The most prominent was former County Legislature Chairman Roger Blackwell.