For Immediate Release: Monday, August 22, 2011

Hayes Announces Resignation From Assembly

Veteran Amherst Republican Assemblyman Jim Hayes today announced that he is resigning effective September 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 a Williamsville Village Trustee and I am deeply grateful to the voters who permitted me to have this extraordinary 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 place this stewardship in new hands. Within the last few weeks, I was offered -- and have accepted -- a new position that requires a full time commitment and I have made the difficult choice to pursue this exciting new opportunity and relinquish my seat 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 required in 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 helping them 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 on the Ways and Means Committee, where I have always been a leading spokesman for reform and fiscal restraint in state government. It is gratifying for me to now see so many of my ideas come to fruition under the 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 in Western 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 the years to work with outstanding leaders and colleagues: Assembly Republican Leader Brian Kolb; Governors Cuomo and Pataki; Ways and Means Chairman Denny Farrell; Congressmen Tom Reynolds, Jack Quinn and Bill 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 this years general election, so there will be near continuity in representation and no added cost to the taxpayer for a special election, Hayes said. Hayes was first elected to the Assembly in 1998 and has been the senior Republican on the Assemblys fiscal committee for the last six years. -30-