POLITICS: Dems polling for a Robach opponent

By Jeremy Moule and Mary Anna Towler on September 26, 2007

Residents of the 56th State Senate District have been getting calls from pollsters about potential Democratic challengers for Republican Senator Joe Robach in the 2008 election.

The poll names Brighton Town Justice Rick Dollinger (a former state senator) and former City Council member and mayoral candidate Wade Norwood. But when reached Wednesday, both men said they are not interested in the position.

"That's not in the cards," Dollinger said this morning.

Norwood said he has not been approached about running and doesn't want to return to politics. He can have more impact on the community and on public policy, he said, through his work at the Finger Lakes Health Systems Planning Agency. "I'm very happy in my job," he said. "I have no intention of walking away from it."

The poll, done by the OTR research firm, was probably commissioned by state Democrats, said Sean Hart, communications director for the Monroe County Democratic Committee.

"It's nothing that we've been active with ourselves," Hart said.

The committee plans to take a more active role after the November local elections, Hart said. And Robach, who is up for reelection in 2008, will be a high-priority target of local and state Democrats.