Rebounding, Nardi To Explore

Running Against Seward In ’18

‘I Had A Lot Of Fun, Did A Lot Of Good,’ Democrat Says

By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

COOPERSTOWN – Rebounding from her narrow loss in Republican-dominated District 3, Democratic newcomer Cathy Nardi said today she is forming an “exploratory committee” to consider challenging incumbent Jim Seward, R-Milford, in the state Senate’s 51^st District next November.

“I really had a lot of fun and I think I did a lot of good,” said Nardi, who came within eight votes of defeating county board Chair Kathy Clark, R-Otego/Laurens.  With absent ballots counted today, the final tally was 561-543 for Clark, a lead a mere 10 votes could have shifted.

Maguire Benton of Cooperstown, who was an observer at today’s counting of absentee ballots, said his successor as chairman of the Otsego County Young Democrats, Oneonta’s Clark Oliver, has agreed to chair Nardi’s exploratory committee.  “She’s had a great time,” said Benton.  “She doesn’t want it to be over.”

For his part, county GOP Chair Vince Casale was dismissive.  “I met her for the first time today,” he said, “and she didn’t seem crazy to me.”

He went on to say “there are very few elected officials who represent an area better than Jim Seward.”  And he pointed out that, from a practical standpoint, would the 51^st want to give up a senior Republican in the Republican-controlled Senate for a freshman Democrat?   “We’d never get anything,” he said.

For her part, Nardi, who teaches journalism at SUNY Oneonta, reflected:  “Is it practical?  I don’t know.  Is it possible? Anything’s possible.”