ALBANY, NY — Republican Terry Bernardo filed petitions at the state board of elections in Albany on Friday to run in the newly drawn 51st state Senate district.

Bernardo, who is a resident of Rock Hill in Sullivan County, decided to run for office after the final state Senate maps were released on May 21. “We were all devastated by the news that our current Senator, Mike Martucci had been redistricted out of our area and into Orange County”, said Bernardo. “Residents had become accustom to the high level of service that they received from their Senator. I am running for this office to continue the representation and commitment that the people have come to expect.”

The new 51st state Senate district covers seven counties including all of Sullivan, Delaware and parts of Ulster. Bernardo, who previously resided in Accord, owned a small business and served as chairwoman of the Ulster County Legislature before moving to Sullivan County a few years ago.

Terry Bernardo will face off in an August Republican primary election against Otsego County resident Peter Oberacker, who resides in the Town of Maryland. Oberacker is currently a sitting state Senator who was redistricted into the new 51st Senate district.

The winner of that contest will face Democrat Eric Ball in the November general election.