NEWS POLITICAL REPORTER

Erie County Republicans have chosen another high-profile media figure to run for County Legislature this year, tapping veteran Channel 2 News reporter Lynne Dixon to challenge Legislator Robert B. Reynolds, a Ham-burg Democrat.

In addition, the GOP committee Wednesday night endorsed two other candidates to challenge Democratic incumbents and expressed high hopes for both. It selected Kevin P. Curtin of North Buffalo to run against Legislature Chairwoman Lynn M. Marinelli of the Town of Tonawanda and Amherst Council Member Shelly D. Schratz to go up against Legislator Thomas A. Loughran of Amherst.

But the big development of the day was Dixon, a Channel 2 reporter since 1997 who enters the race with instant name recognition and has resigned her position at WGRZTV in anticipation of the race. She said Wednesday she never envisioned herself running for office, but over the course of a 20-year career covering politics has come to view government as “dysfunctional.”

“I have four kids, and I just asked myself what I could give back to make it better for them,” she said. “I go to soccer and lacrosse games, cheerleading and dance recitals, and everyone asks me: ‘What the heck is going on?’ So I felt I had to do something.”

Dixon’s candidacy, first reported Wednesday on The Buffalo News Web site, follows the weekend announcement by Kevin R. Hardwick, associate professor of political science at Canisius College, that he would run against Legislator Michele M. Iannello, a Kenmore Democrat.

Hardwick, the host of “Hardline With Hardwick,” a WBEN Radio program that wrapped up its four-year run with the announcement of his candidacy, is another media figure entering the political fray. He frequently appeared on Channel 2 News as a political commentator.

Both he and Dixon became candidates after intense recruiting efforts by County Executive Chris Collins, a Republican.

Earlier this year, he identified Reynolds and Iannello as his top two targets in the November election, promising political and financial help for Republicans who support his “reform agenda.”

Christopher M. Grant, a top aide, said Wednesday that Collins is delighted that Dixon is running.

“The county executive is committed to recruiting Acaliber candidates from the private sector to help reform county government,” Grant said. “He is thrilled that someone of Lynne’s caliber is ready to step into the arena.”

Reynolds said Wednesday he has known for months that Collins has “put a target on my back.”

“I wish her the best of luck,” he said. “But if she’s going to take his money, she’s tied in with Collins.”

Dixon, 43, lives in Hamburg and is a member of the Independence Party. She enters the race with an advantage toward snaring the nomination of the Independence Party, which occupies the No. 3 line on the ballot and often proves crucial in a tight race.

She has long reported on county politics for Channel 2 and is expected to tout her experience in the race against Reynolds. She said Wednesday she has not reported on any county government or political stories since she began discussing a candidacy with Collins.

Collins has labeled Reynolds and Iannello — along with others — as “obstructionists” who oppose his “reform agenda.”

James P. Domagalski, chairman of the Erie County Republican Party, said Dixon’s candidacy follows the party’s recent trend of finding private sector candidates willing to bring their experience to county government.

Both Schratz and Curtin bring that same business background to their races, said Domagalski, who has been working in tandem with Collins on the recruiting trail. While Curtin is expected to prove a major underdog against the veteran Marinelli, political observers are intrigued by Schratz’s challenge to Loughran.

Schratz, 51, a veteran of the Amherst Town Board, ran unsuccessfully as the Republican candidate for county clerk in 2006. But she fits the private sector mode sought by Domagalski and Collins as the longtime owner of Bing’s Restaurant in Amherst.

“People really like her, and she’s been a top vote-getter in Amherst,” Domagalski said. “She has a very independent, yet balanced record. She takes issues one at a time, listens to people and then makes a decision.”

Curtin, 41, faces a tougher challenge against Marinelli. But the GOP is high on the rookie candidate, who has spent 15 years with Emco, most recently as director of marketing and new business development for the consumer packaging company.

“He’s got that business background, and he’s been really involved in his community in many ways,” Domagalski said.