Ted Remsnyder is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Ithaca attorney Josh Riley has now officially declared his candidacy in the Democratic primary in the newly drawn 19th district. Riley will compete in the August 23 primary, along with farmer and small business owner Jamie Cheney and OutHudson Executive Director Osun Zotique, for the Democratic line on the November ballot. Riley, 41, is an attorney in private practice. He launched his congressional campaign last fall in the old 22nd Congressional District. He previously served in the office of late Rep. Maurice Hinchey in a junior position opening mail and answering phones. “The congressman was really a role model for me and inspired me in a lot of ways to take on a career in public service,” Riley said. After law school graduation, Riley chose to partner with the American Academy of Pediatrics on a civil rights lawsuit representing children from low-income families having trouble getting access to health care services. He went on to serve as general counsel to then U.S. Sen. Al Franken on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Riley has never held elected office, but he said the upcoming congressional election was the right time to wade into the electoral pool. “I’ve been out to Columbia and Greene counties since the new district lines and I’ll be up there again next weekend,” Riley said. “With this new district there are a lot of counties and I’ve been in all of them at least once, and in most cases multiple times. It’s been so great getting around and meeting folks.” Environmental protection is a top priority for Riley, as is rebuilding New York's infrastructure and creating good jobs. Democratic Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan will face Republican Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro in a special election, also on August 23, to serve out the remainder of Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado’s term in the existing 19th Congressional District. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.