Tom Casey in the Register-Star reports that the Columbia County Republican Committee backs Richard Wager of Millbrook, while Columbia County Democrats favor Didi Barrett of Millbrook to replace Marcus Molinaro for the 103rd Assembly district seat, up for special election March 20. In 2008, Wager lost a primary to Sandy Treadwell (R-Westport) for the U.S. House of Representative 20th District seat. Barrett failed to unseat New York State Senator Steve Saland in 2010. The seat in the Assembly in Albany represents Ancram, Copake, Hillsdale, Hudson, Greenport, Claverack, Stockport, Ghent, Austerlitz and Canaan in Columbia County, plus Dutchess County to the south.