The crowded 147th Assembly District has assumed one bit of clarity in the past few days after the state Conservative Party officially nominated David J. DiPietro as its candidate.
Erie County Conservative Chairman Ralph C. Lorigo said state Chairman Michael R. Long has informed him of the choice, since the multi-county district requires the approval of the party's state committee. DiPietro, the former East Aurora mayor, beat out Republican David P. Mariacher, who is also running in the GOP primary and had sought the Conservative nod as well.
Lorigo as well as former GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl P. Paladino -- who has grown close to party leadership since also running on the Conservative line in 2010 -- are thought to have played key roles on behalf of DiPietro.
The Republican field also includes Daniel J. Humiston and Christopher Lane. Humiston also filed an Independence Party petition.
Petitions from the Independence Party's Christina Abt were also filed for the Independence, Democratic and Working Families lines.
--Robert J. McCarthy
