Assemblyman Will Barclay opts out of 23rd race

One of the Republicans expected to challenge Bill Owens in the 23rd district congressional race says he won’t run this year.

Assemblyman Will Barclay issued a statement over the weekend saying that his role in Albany would prevent him from campaigning full time.

We live in a time of rampant cynicism so maybe it won’t take long for some cynic to gleefully throw at me that famous line by George Bernard Shaw: “When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty.”

I fully expect and resign myself to accepting that my citing duty as the reason for my decision will be dismissed by some, perhaps by many, with cynical comments. So be it.

Barclay had been a sharp critic of the only declared candidate — Doug Hoffman from Saranac Lake.

But in his statement, he promised to support whichever politician wins the September 15th GOP primary.

Republican businessman Matt Doheny and Franklin County Legislator Paul Maroun are also considering a run this year.

Bill Owens — a Democrat from Plattsburgh — beat Hoffman in a special election upset last November.

So far, Owens is running uncontested in the Democratic primary.

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