8/4/2019 8.22.11 Press Release

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For Immediate Release:Monday, August 22, 2011

Hayes Announces Resignation From Assembly

Veteran Amherst Republican Assemblyman Jim Hayes today announced that he is resigning effectiveSeptember 6 to pursue a private sector career in finance and investments.

I am proud of my years of service in the New York State Assembly, on the Amherst Town Board and as aWilliamsville Village Trustee and I am deeply grateful to the voters who permitted me to have thisextraordinary opportunity to serve in state and local government, Hayes said.

Elected officials in a democracy are but temporary stewards of the public good, and for me, it is time to placethis stewardship in new hands.

Within the last few weeks, I was offered -- and have accepted -- a new position that requires a full timecommitment and I have made the difficult choice to pursue this exciting new opportunity and relinquish myseat in the Assembly.

I earned my securities license four years ago and began work as an investment advisor at what was then A.G.

Edwards, Inc. Building that business the way I hoped to, just isn't possible given the time and energy requiredin the Assembly, especially during such difficult times in Albany.

And with college just a few short years away for my two teenage daughters, my focus has turned to helpingthem financially prepare for wherever their ambition and abilities lead them," Hayes said.

Without a doubt, my greatest accomplishment in the Assembly was serving as the Ranking Republican onthe Ways and Means Committee, where I have always been a leading spokesman for reform and fiscalrestraint in state government. It is gratifying for me to now see so many of my ideas come to fruition underthe leadership of Governor Andrew Cuomo.

So, I leave secure in the knowledge that New York State is charting a course that will spur job growth inWestern New York, lead to fiscal stability and reform the way state government operates.

It has been a great privilege to serve the people of Amherst, Pendleton and North Tonawanda and over theyears to work with outstanding leaders and colleagues: Assembly Republican Leader Brian Kolb; GovernorsCuomo and Pataki; Ways and Means Chairman Denny Farrell; Congressmen Tom Reynolds, Jack Quinn andBill Paxon; County Executive Chris Collins; Senators Mary Lou Rath, George Maziarz and Mike Ranzenhofer;Williamsville Mayor Ron Daniels and Party Chairmen Nick Langworthy and Ralph Lorigo, to name just a few.

The timing of my departure will allow for the 148th Assembly district seat to be filled in two months time at thisyears general election, so there will be near continuity in representation and no added cost to the taxpayer fora special election, Hayes said.

Hayes was first elected to the Assembly in 1998 and has been the senior Republican on the Assemblys fiscalcommittee for the last six years.

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