Betty Jean Grant, chair of the Erie County Legislature, will announce her intention to run a primary challenge to State Senator Tim Kennedy, a fellow Democrat, in the 63rd District. And Johnny Destino, a Republican who posed a credible challenge to Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster last year, has announced he’ll run a primary challenge to State Senator George Maziarz.

Grant’s candidacy materialized just as the putative candidacy of Antoine Thompson evaporated: Thompson, who lost the 60th District seat to Mark Grisanti in 2010, announced last week that he’d sit out this election year to focus on his publishing and real estate businesses. There is some talk of Fillmore District Common Councilman Dave Franczyk entering the race, too, which, in the unlikely case it occurred, would create a free-for-all.

Destino’s announcement was followed hotly by an endorsement from Carl Paladino, who wrote:

George Maziarz is a ‘poster child’ for term limits. He has been around for a long time and his only accomplishments have been in serving special interests that in turn support his friends and family club.

King George, like his namesake, is more about power brokering than dealing with issues vital to his constituents and Western New York.

Asked in an interview with the Niagara Falls Reporter for the “single most pro-active reason” to vote for Destino, Paladin replied:

He’s a man. That’s a big word. He may be a young man, but he is a MAN. He is not a phony. He is not a charlatan, not a chameleon, not a squeaky deal kind of guy. He stands up and does what is right, whether it be in his personal, civic or business life.

One presumes Destino will have Paladino’s money behind him, which is nice.