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Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum celebrates his victory on Tuesday night with his girlfriend, Juli Buono. Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach waits with supporters for Tuesday night's votes to be tallied.   Photos by Paula Sirc
ELECTION RESULTS
Local Incumbents Fare Well in Balloting

REGIONAL � Despite a national wave that swept dozens of Democratic incumbents out of power, this past Tuesday's election demonstrated that the power of incumbency is alive and well in much of the Hudson Valley. On the state level Democrats did quite well, sweeping the three races for statewide office despite the larger national trend that saw the GOP win key U.S. Senate seats and regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Democratic Congressman Maurice Hinchey, in a race that was much closer than many had predicted, managed to hold off a formidable challenge by conservative George Phillips in the NY 22nd. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Hinchey had garnered 52.4 percent of the vote, to Phillips's 47.6 percent.

Another local heavyweight, Republican State Senator John J. Bonacic of the 42nd Senate District, easily won reelection. Bonacic defeated Sullivan County Legislator David Sager by a substantial margin, winning 60 percent of the vote to Sager's 40 percent.

Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, too, cruised to victory in the 101st Assembly District, beating Republican businessman Peter Rooney by a 56 percent to 44 percent margin.

Bill Larkin easily won re-election in the 39th Senate District, defeating his Democratic Party challenger, Harley Doles, 36,936 to 24,077. Larkin ran on the Republican, Conservative and Independence party lines. Doles ran on the Democratic and Working Families party lines.

In the 96th State Assembly District, the result will not be known until November 15, as County Election Officials extended the deadline. In this race, as of noon, Wednesday, Nancy Calhoun (R) was leading Roxanne Donnery (D) by 311 votes, 18,649 to 18,338. There are however 1,300 absentee ballots to be counted. Another complicating factor in the district, which includes West Point, is that military personnel may be given an additional week to file their ballots.

The 100th State Assembly District race was a very close one. Frank Skartados was leading on Wednesday, noon, by 324 votes (13,918 to 13,594) with an unknown number of absentee ballots to be counted. Skartados, who won the district in 2008 by a similarly slim margin, was leading in Orange County, where 47 of 49 precincts had reported. The district includes the Towns of Marlborough, Shawangunk, Lloyd in Ulster County, Newburgh in Orange and Beacon in Dutchess County.

It remains unclear as to the exact balance in the NY State Senate. As of Wednesday morning, it appears that the upper chamber could be split 31-31, with the Democrats losing their slim majority. This close split could also mean gridlock for the next two years. There are, however, several races that were too close to call as of Wednesday morning, so it appears that the balance could tip either way.

The Democrats easily retained control of the NY State Assembly.

In the special election to complete the term for now-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's seat, relative newcomer Kirsten Gillibrand easily turned aside a challenge by former GOP congressman Joe DioGuardi, winning 61.3 percent of the vote to DioGuardi's 36.5 percent. Democratic Senator Charles Schumer also cruised to reelection, outdistancing businessman Jay Townsend by a tally of 65.5 percent to Townsend's 32.9.

Current State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo also had an easy victory in the race for governor, trouncing Republican Carl Paladino by a margin of 61.5 percent to 34 percent. Democrats Eric Schneiderman and Thomas DiNapoli also won their respective bids for attorney general and state comptroller.

And, on the county level, Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach will be sent back to Kingston for another term. As of Wednesday morning, with 127 of 129 machines reporting, Auerbach enjoyed a 28,385-23,557 lead over Independence Party challenger Fawn Tantillo.

"I think it was really a mandate by the voters of Ulster County, who recognize and appreciate the value of our work and understand�not just what the office of the comptroller does, but how it safeguards and looks out for the public interest," Auerbach said Wednesday morning.

Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum also won his bid for a second term, turning aside a challenge by Republican George Goodwin.

Town of Shawangunk Highway Superintendent was also formally elected. Michael Eggelton, running unopposed, collected 1,902 votes on the Republican line.

The Town of Wawarsing also approved a ballot measure extending the town clerk's position from a two-year to a four-year term.



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