Robert Harding reports in Auburn Publications that Otsego County legislator Peter Oberacker, a Republican, announced his campaign to succeed state Senator Jim Seward in the 51st Senate District. Seward announced last month that he was retiring, because he needs to continue receiving treatments for a recurrence of bladder cancer. Assemblymember Chris Tague, a Schoharie Republican, said last week he would not seek the nomination. Democrat Jim Barber announced in December that he would run to represent the district that includes all of Cortland, Otsego, and Schoharie counties, and portions of Cayuga, Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Tompkins, and Ulster counties. Oberacker is also CEO of a research and development firm , and was elected to town offices in Maryland previously. He said, "I look forward to meeting the people of this district and earning the nomination and going on to work hard to earn the votes and confidence of all the residents of the district." Read more about this story in the Auburn Publications website.