By Herald Staff
Skelos had a comfortable cushion over challenger Roy Simon of West Hempstead, capturing 77,221 votes to Simon's 42,127. This was Simon's first run for office.
Going into Election Day, Republicans held the majority in the state Senate by two votes, 31 to 29. Thirty-six-year incumbent Republican Sen. Caesar Trunzo of Brentwood lost to Democratic challenger Brian X. Foley, the Town of Brookhaven supervisor, in Suffolk County's 3rd Senate District, and incumbent Republican Serph Maltese lost to Democrat Joseph Addabbo Jr. in Queens. The loss of those two seats moves the Republicans to the minority. Democrats already control the Assembly and the governor's office.
"On my way over," said Skelos, standing on the podium at Republican headquarters in Westbury on Tuesday night, shortly after the final tallies were announced, "I called Governor Paterson, and I indicated to him that our conference -- because we will still be in the majority until the end of this year -- will continue to work with him to solve the problems that the state has right now on a bipartisan basis."
Skelos added that he and Paterson "have an understanding" that Republicans are not going to set aside their principles. "We feel very strongly about that ... real property taxes are strangling us here on Long Island."
Earlier this year, Skelos was elected majority leader of the Senate, after serving as deputy majority leader since 1995. He said that in the next several months, there would be more of a consensus in Albany. "We have some very good Democratic friends that want to see things move away from the partisan nature that has existed, [and] into a ... coalition, or more cohesive, nonpartisan body in the Senate," he said.
Skelos added that the Republican party would offer its hand of friendship. "New York is a great state [and] we have to make some tough choices," he said. "We are willing to make these tough choices and stand by our principles.
"And you know what? We're going to come back in two years!"
Incumbent state Sen. Kemp Hannon narrowly defeated Democratic challenger Kristen McElroy in a closely-watched race that came down to the wire. According to results from the Board of Elections, Hannon won by 3,256 votes.
In the 8th State Senate District, Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. handily defeated challenger Carol Gordon, a Democrat from Massapequa. Fuschillo won by roughly 25,000 votes.
In the House
Fourth Congressional District incumbent Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) handily defeated challenger Jack Martins with 64 percent of the vote. The official tally was 153,320 to 87,239.
Speaking of the Democratic sweep of the House, Senate and presidency, McCarthy said she thinks people are going to be surprised that her party is actually fiscally conservative. "The economy has to be the number one issue that we have to face," she said. "We've got to get that back up. It's going to be painful, but I do believe we can do it."
McCarthy will begin her seventh term in the House in January.
In the Assembly
Incumbent Assemblyman Thomas McKevitt, an East Meadow native, held on to his seat despite a stiff challenge by John Pinto, a Democrat from North Merrick. McKevitt, who won by nearly 9,000 votes in the 17th Assembly District, said described the final days of his campaign as "grueling."
"I was able to meeting several thousand people in the last few weeks and I think that made all the difference," McKevitt said.
McKevitt garnered a 400-vote advantage in his hometown of East Meadow, an area that he did not win in his first election.
Incumbent Assemblyman Rob Walker (R-Hicksville) defeated East Meadow resident and Democratic challenger Stephanie Ovadia. Walker, who won by more than 9,000 votes in the 15th Assembly District, spoke highly of his challenger and said he hopes to work with her on issues facing the district.
"I mentioned to some people that it is all about rolling up our sleeves and getting to work and that includes working with people that might not have been sucessful and those that might have been successful," Walker said.
Speaking about her campaign, in which Ovadia traveled door to door with homemade materials, often created by her and her children, she said that campaigning has been one of the greatest experiences of her life.
"It's been grassroots all the way," said Ovadia. "Nobody's had a good a time as me campaigning. Win or lose, I've met wonderful people in the district."
Incumbent Assemblywoman Earlene Hooper won easily over Republican challenger Darren Bryant and Incumbent Assemblyman David McDonough of North Merrick triumphed over Democratic challenger Howard Kudler in the 19th A.D.
Read next week's print edition of the Herald for more coverage on Election '08.
