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 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," he said.
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!"
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 about 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
It was a tight race for 14th Assembly District incumbent Bob Barra (R-Lynbrook), who narrowly defeated newcomer Joe Ferrara by almost 7,500 votes - 29,276 to 21,799 - to win a fifth term. "We do work as a team, and for the good of the people," said Barra, "and that's why the people saw to it to return us to office - because we do the job for them, and we will continue to do that in the best way possible. If the people continue to work with us, we can't be beat."
Ferrara, a Valley Stream resident, said he believes that the tight margin was the result of his going to train stations, supermarkets and streets to talk to people. "I am really impressed with the incredible response," he said. "We worked so hard and got a lot done in such a short period of time. I think we flipped a lot of votes." Asked whether he would run for office again, he said, "Yes, of course. I learned so much this time around."
In the 20th Assembly District, incumbent Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach) received nearly 66 percent of the vote, defeating challenger Michael McGinty (R-Island Park) by a count of 31,965 to 16,457. Weisenberg, who in January will enter his 20th year in the Assembly, described what he does as public service rather than politics.
"When you work seven days and nights advocating for people, people know and realize what the efforts of your position are, that it's a full-time job," Weisenberg said. "And if you do your job, you get re-elected."
Weisenberg said he was devastated that Skelos is out as Senate majority leader, calling him a real advocate and a leader in Nassau County. "I hate to see our voice here on the Island weakened," he said. Asked if that was possible with his party in control, Weisenberg said, "When everything is controlled by one party, it's kind of scary."
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