Donald Trump, who is considering a run for governor, will be the guest speaker at a fundraiser for the Erie County GOP.

The Lincoln Leadership Reception will honor the town chairs of the Erie County Republican Committee with the 2014 Lincoln Leadership Award at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 31 at Salvatore's Italian Gardens, 6461 Transit Road in Depew.

Trump has flirted with the idea of a gubernatorial run several times over the past two decades but has opted against running each time. This time he says he'll run if the GOP will get behind him.

Earlier this week, Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino sent a letter to state GOP Chairman Ed Cox and others within the state party of supporting "Republicans In Name Only" of blocking Donald Trump from running for governor. Paladino lost to Andrew Cuomo four years ago.

Cox, meanwhile, told the NY Daily News that he has no opposition to Trump. But he's skeptical of Trump's real desire to run. One of the concerns Cox shared was the Trump doesn't want to earn the nomination.

“That’s one of the reasons he needs to go through this process,” Cox said in the Daily News story. “It would certainly hone his knowledge of the various regions of New York State and also put to rest that skepticism.”

Some view Trump's visit to Western New York may be an attempt to do just that.

Tickets for the reception are $100 per person or $175 per couple. Erie County GOP Committee members' tickets will run $75. A special VIP reception with photo opportunity costs $500 per couple. Tickets can be purchased online at ECGOP.com or by calling 856-8700.

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