105TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT — Democrat Mark Blanchfield will officially announce his candidacy today for the 105th Assembly District during four appearances in Schenectady and Montgomery counties.

He plans to focus on controlling taxes and creating jobs.

Blanchfield, 41, is a city of Schenectady councilman first elected in 2001. He will challenge Republican incumbent George Amedore, 39, who won a special election last summer to fill the seat vacated by longtime Assemblyman Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam.

Amedore said he will seek re-election to a full two-year term in the Assembly.

An attorney with Hiscock and Barclay in Albany, Blanchfield said he wants to make sure that each community in the district receives individualized attention, “so that we don’t follow a one-size-fits-all policy toward economic growth.”

Blanchfield has scheduled announcements at City Hall in Schenectady at 1 p.m.; at the Mabee Farm in Rotterdam Junction at 2 p.m.; at Amsterdam City Hall at 3:30 p.m.; and at Riverfront Park in Canajoharie at 5 p.m. He is expected to receive the endorsement today of the Schenectady County Democratic Committee. He already has the endorsements of the city of Schenectady Democratic Committee and the Montgomery County Democratic Committee.