Democrat Dave Valesky has won the race for the 49th seat in the New York State senate. He beat incumbent Republican Nancy Larraine Hoffmann and conservative Thomas Dadey in a hard-fought race in which each candidate laid claim to the "reformer" label.
Hoffmann has done much to support Madison County communities. When I talked to people in Cazenovia before the election, they were ver complimentary about Ms. Hoffmann's commitment to libraries, fire departments, and other local organizations.
Ultimately, though, her re-election bid was hurt by the reform movement. Local Republican committees worked aggressively to oust her in the primaries, in which each county committee supported Dadey's effort. Despite that support, Hoffmann won the primary and the right to be on the ballot in the general election as a Republican. Dadey remained on the conservative line, and the Republican party united -- grudgingly, it seemed to me -- behind Hoffmann.
Valesky won the election by a very small margin (he's ahead by 450 with about 300 ballots left to count), and Dadey's presence on the ticket almost certainly cost Hoffmann the election, and the Republicans control of that seat.
I hope that Valesky will be a voice for positive change in Albany - for an end to b udget uncertainty and legislative excess and gridlock. I hope that he will push for open meetings and for the rules changes recommended by the Brennan Center to change what that group calls "The Most Dysfunctional Legislative Process In The Nation".
Good luck, Mr. Valesky, and thank you, Ms. Hoffmann, for your service!
Posted by jimj at November 16, 2004 09:07 AM | TrackBack