By John C. O'Connell
Final, unofficial results in for VS races
In a race that featured both a favorite son and favorite daughter from Valley Stream, Republican Jim Darcy defeated Democrat Eleanor Sciglibaglio for the Third Council District in the Town of Hempstead.
Though initial returns coming into the Board of Elections Tuesday night showed an almost even contest, by early morning Wednesday it was clear who'd won: Mr. Darcy received 23,911 votes to Ms. Sciglibaglio's 20,373 votes, according to final, unofficial figures released by the Board of Elections at 1:11 A.M. Wednesday.
"I think I have a record that people recognize," Mr. Darcy said Tuesday night as Republicans gathered to hear the returns. "I also think I out-worked my opponent. I walked throughout the district. I went to the train stations 41 times. I just worked real hard on the campaign."
As for his aims now on the board, Mr. Darcy said, "I want to continue the fine record the town enjoys. The fiscal responsibility they showed over the years, holding the line on taxes. I also think we have to start looking at some of the infrastructure problems in the area and address those very aggressively."
In other Valley Stream area Election day contests, winning names were Carolyn McCarthy, Dean Skelos, Robert Barra, Thomas Alfano, and Joseph Kearney.
Based on the final Board of Elections' results released early Wednesday morning, Democrat Carolyn McCarthy gained 128,484 votes to Republican Gregory Becker's 83,469 votes in the Fourth Congressional District.
Republican State Senator Dean Skelos was reelected with 68,890 votes to Edward Oppenheimer's 43,799 votes in the Ninth State Senate District, according to the elections board's final figures.
Republican Robert Barra defeated Independent and Democratic candidate Alan Bergstein for the 21st Assembly District, the one vacated by Assemblyman Jim Darcy who ran for the Hempstead town board's Third District and won.
Republican Assemblyman Thomas Alfano was reelected in the 22nd Assembly District with votes to Democratic challenger Vincent Raimo's votes.
In the Second Hempstead Council seat, Joseph Kearney defeated N. Scott Banks with a vote tally of 27,193 for Mr. Kearney to Mr. Banks' 18,413.
Mr. Kearney said that he won "because the people of the district are very smart and because the Town of Hempstead is in great shape and we are going to keep the strength of the town. I believe that at the end of the day they realize we are not the county of Nassau. We have given great things back tot he people in the Town of Hempstead and we will continue to do great things for the Town of Hempstead."
See next week's Valley Stream Herald for complete election coverage, including how the makeup of the new district-oriented Hempstead town board will affect Valley Stream, North Valley Stream and neighboring communities.
To listen to a recording of other Nassau South Shore area contests, call (516) 569-4000 ext. 288.
