ENDICOTT, N.Y. (WENY) -- Mike Sigler, who has been a Tompkins County Legislator for 14 years, announced Wednesday he is running as a Republican for New York's 52nd Senate District.

Lea Webb, a Democrat who currently holds the seat, won re-election in 2022 by just 1% of the vote. Webb is running again for the November election.

“New York isn’t the same place that it used to be. Violent crime is up. Fentanyl and other dangerous drugs are killing people on a daily basis. Taxes are skyrocketing. Jobs and young people are fleeing to other states,” said Sigler, according to a press release. “I’m running for State Senate to bring some common sense and middle ground to Albany. We need more mainstream and less extreme in State Policy.” 

Sigler calls himself a non-partisan, moderate Republican. This is not his first run for a higher seat, Sigler sought a Congressional seat in 2022 for New York's 23rd district. He dropped out, endorsing current Rep. Nick Langworthy.

According to his LinkedIn, Sigler previously worked in TV news from 1997 to 2002, including stops at WENY and WETM in Elmira, as well as WTVH in Syracuse. Sigler now works as a Sales Manager, while serving on the Housing and Economic Development and Public Safety committees in the Tompkins County Legislature.

Sigler lives in Lansing, N.Y. with his wife and four daughters.

NY-52 encompasses Tompkins, Cortland and Broome counties.