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No Announcement, But Supporters Rally Around Katz

YORKTOWN, N.Y. —Freshman New York State Assembly member Steve Katz stood on a chair in his living room Sunday surrounded by at least 60 people, to thank his volunteers and supporters who have helped him thus far—and who have vowed to support him moving forward—should he announce plans to seek State Sen. Greg Ball’s 40th District seat.

Katz, wearing two nametags, one with his name and the other his nickname in politics, “Dr. No,” was tight-lipped Sunday, refusing to say whether or not he would challenge State Sen. Greg Ball (R – Patterson) .

“I’m strongly considering the run, I will make an official announcement in the not too distant future,” Katz said.  “I cannot give you an exact date yet, but it will be soon. “Right now, what I have seen from the inside is what’s making me consider a run.”

Last week, in response to the possibility of Katz running against Ball in November, Ball's camp said it would be “unfortunate” for a fellow Republican “to help the New York City Democrats gain control of this seat by pushing an unnecessary primary.” 

The purpose of Sunday’s breakfast, though, was a chance to thank his local supporters.

“You’re looking at the grassroots,” he said of the group. “These people are here to do nothing but the toughest stuff.  They’ll stuff envelopes, they’ll be out there on Saturdays at the A&P handing out mailers, that’s what these people are here for—because they want honesty in their government and they don’t have that now.”

Gary Murphy from Chappaqua said the volunteers rallying around Katz Sunday showed two things—strength and diversity of the Republican support, as well as grassroots support.

“I just wanted to get involved right from the beginning to support him,” Murphy said. “I think we need more people like him up in Albany who are practical, who have common sense.”

Jack Gress, a Katz supporter from North Salem, said it’s rare to see a politician like Katz in politics.

“Steve is a man of his word and that’s something very, very rare in this day,” Gress said.

Recent legislation, such as the voter ID registration Katz submitted in the Assembly, and having a companion bill introduced in the Senate is evidence of Katz’s analytical and productive nature, according to supporter Bill Hellwinkel of North Salem.

“He got involved because he was fed up seeing what was going on in this country and said he wanted to help make a change,” he said. “We want our government back, we’re tired of the one party system with the two factions, we want good quality grassroots people in our government.”

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