Brian Kolb is first Republican to enter 2018 governor's race

ALBANY — Brian Kolb won election to the Assembly by a razor-thin seven-vote margin in 2000.

In 2018, he'll need to scrape together every vote he can as he seeks to become the first Republican to win statewide office since former Gov. George Pataki won his final term in 2002.

On Tuesday, Kolb, the Assembly Republican minority leader since 2009, announced that he would run for governor, making him the first GOPer out of the gates as a handful of others mull whether to take on two-term Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo next year.

Kolb is an obscure figure statewide who will need to overcome a significant campaign financial disadvantage to Cuomo. The governor had more than $25 million in his war chest as of July. Kolb had just more than $255,000 in his Assembly campaign account.

But the Republican, like others who might challenge Cuomo, is banking on voters being hungry for a change in state leadership.

"I believe that people are looking for a new voice, someone that's really going to listen to them," he told the Times Union.

"It all usually comes down to do you get a sense that Brian Kolb really cares ... not about being elected but really cares about trying to help and make our state better," he added. "And I think I can make a way better case than Gov. (Andrew) Cuomo, who is hellbent on other political ambitions."

Kolb, a former business owner and entrepreneur from Ontario County, has been conservative when it comes to policies that the Democratic governor counts among his progressive bona fides.

He has been an ardent critic of the SAFE Act, saying at a Capitol rally in 2013 that it “is probably one of the most egregious acts by government I’ve seen defying our nation’s history.”

Kolb also has called the minimum wage increase and paid-family-leave program “two crushing mandates” for small businesses.

Kolb and other candidates who emerge are likely to focus on ethics. In his campaign kickoff video, Kolb's team highlighted a case going trial next year involving a former top aide to the governor and some of Cuomo's top economic development initiatives.

But Kolb has faced scrutiny in the Legislature.

In 2004, a lawsuit centering on then-Speaker Sheldon Silver's handling of sexual harassment sought documents regarding complaints against Kolb and another member. Kolb told the Daily News Tuesday that "there's been rumors out there for years," but "I've been a strong and ethical leader."

It's unclear whether Kolb's early announcement will deter other potential GOP candidates. Businessman and former candidate for state comptroller Harry Wilson, state Senate Deputy Republican Majority Leader John DeFrancisco and Dutchess County Exeuctive Marc Molinaro all are considering their options. The party's 2014 candidate, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, decided not to run again after losing his re-election effort this year.

Kolb's hope is that the party comes out of next year's nominating convention unified. Still, he didn't dispel the idea of a potential primary.

For his part, state Republican Chairman Ed Cox said in a statement that the GOP is glad Kolb has formally announced. But he isn't lining up behind a candidate yet.

"We will be working collaboratively with our county chairs over the coming weeks and months to put together the statewide ticket that will turn our state around," he said.

mhamilton@timesunion.com • 518-454-5449 •@matt_hamilton10