GOP chairman: New York Assemblyman facing primary kills self

Bill Nojay, a New York State assemblyman scheduled to run next week in its Republican primary, committed suicide at a Rochester cemetery Friday morning, local media reported.

Rochester police received a 911 call at 9:20 a.m., asking authorities to check on the welfare of a person on the grounds of Riverside Cemetery, Frank Camp, a police spokesman, said.

Nojay was seeking re-election to his seat, and was going to face Honeoye Falls Mayor Richard Milne in Tuesday’s Republican primary. A party official says it’s too late to remove Nojay’s name from the ballot.

Nojay, who also was involved in global democracy movements, as well as worldwide business deals, was accused of fraud in connection with a venture in Cambodia, which he brushed off earlier this year as nothing more than a lawsuit.

Nojay faced fraud charges in Cambodia where he has been doing business since the 1980s.

“He was a strong voice with interest of upstate New York and certainly a dedicated advocate for the people he served and represented in the New York State Assembly”, he said. “My thoughts and prayers go out to the Nojay family and all of Bill’s many friends”.

“I’m just nearly speechless”, said Kolb, who added he considered Nojay a friend as well as a colleague.

“We are incredibly shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Assemblyman Bill Nojay. “He happened to sit down next to me (and) said “hi I’m Bill Nojay”, (and) I said to him ‘I’m” Barbara Baer, I’m running against you, then we had a really amusing conversation”. He had three children with his wife, Debra. “My thoughts are with Bill’s family, friends, and constituents on this most hard of days”.

Politicians from across the state released statement’s on Nojay’s death, including Gov. Cuomo.

Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, said Nojay’s death was hard to understanding, saying Nojay was such a strong voice in the Assembly.

“It is hard to imagine the grief his family and friends are experiencing, and our deepest condolences go out to them”, she said in a statement. He said Nojay did not bring up the fraud case hanging over him. “I was a progressive Democrat”. He always wanted the best for me, whether it was in my journalism career or politics. “I offer my condolences to his friends, family and colleagues”. Check back for details.