Cole Out?

Matt Cole

Things are looking dubious for Matt Cole, a Niagara Falls resident, who was circulating petitions for a run for the New York State Assembly, 145th District, a seat held by Republican John Ceretto.

A fractured Democratic Party does not seem inclined to help him, leaving Cole to both fund his campaign and carry his own petitions.

His campaign seems stalled and Ceretto will likely run unopposed.

Sources familiar with the matter said that Gov. Andrew Cuomo likes Ceretto, and his frequent support of his initiatives, and handed down a message to Democrats to not to seek a candidate to run against him.

Since the Assembly is already a Democratic stronghold, there is no stake in statewide Democrats spending money to unseat the Republican Ceretto despite there being a heavy Democratic edge in his district.

Democrats who might seek to win back Ceretto's assembly seat, formerly held by Democrat Francine DelMonte, are divided.

Meantime, the fractured Democrats are also divided on supporting Johnny Destino's potential run against State Sen. George Maziarz and consequently both state representatives of this area apparently will be without an opponent in the general election.