Onondaga County Comptroller Bob Antonacci is throwing his hat into the ring for the State Senate seat being vacated by Republican John DeFrancisco.

Antonacci was the 2014 Republican nominee for state comptroller.

“I believe I am the most qualified person to run for this seat and that I possess the skills needed to be a very strong candidate for our Party,” Antonacci wrote in a letter to local Republican chairs. “As your County Comptroller, I have the experience necessary to review and understand the massive state budget, and can hit the ground running on Day 1. I have been elected and reelected to countywide office, and have proven I have what it takes to win and serve in public office.”

Antonacci is joining an increasingly crowded field for the Syracuse-area Senate seat. Republican Joe Carni, a Syracuse Common councilor, is running for the post, with an announcement expected on Tuesday. Republican Rick Zaccaria has previously declared his campaign to run for the seat.

For more, read our State of Politics blog.