Brian D. Grear has been officially substituted for Donald G. Hobel as the Democratic nominee for 62nd District state senator.

Bob Brehm, spokesman for the state Board of Elections, said the change was received Monday in Albany and posted in the board’s computer system. The deadline for the document to be postmarked was Friday.

Grear, a Niagara County sheriff’s deputy and an enrolled Republican, was tapped to run against incumbent George

D. Maziarz, R-Newfane, after Hobel, who previously had the Democratic endorsement, stepped aside last week.

Hobel, a registered Conservative, is running against Maziarz in that party’s primary, while Grear is slated for a GOP primary against Maziarz.

However, Maziarz backers have filed preliminary challenges to the validity of the nominating petitions of Grear and Hobel on all their party lines. Specifics must be postmarked by Wednesday or the challenges will lapse.

Source: Buffalo News