Akshar and Fiala To Battle For State Senate Seat

Kathy Whyte/WNBF News [file][/caption]Frederick Akshar, the Broome County undersheriff, has announced that he is running for the state Senate seat vacated by fellow Republican Thomas Libous.

Akshar became undersheriff a few weeks ago. He launched his campaign with a formal announcement in the town of Dickinson August 4.

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles [file][/caption]Broome County Republican chairman Bijoy Datta said party leaders considered dozens of candidates before choosing Akshar.

Barbara Fiala, a former Broome County executive and state Department of Motor Vehicles commissioner, last week announced she would be the Democratic candidate for the Senate seat.

During a radio interview the day after Libous was convicted of lying to the FBI, Governor Andrew Cuomo said he "would do whatever I can do" to elect Fiala.

While Akshar and Fiala will be on the major party lines, it's not yet known whether other candidates will gain access on the lines of other parties.

A special election is to be held on November 3.