Recount coming in Legislature's 12th District race; Chris McKimmie wins Third District seat
Nov. 7—Democrat Carla Speranza, challenger for the Niagara County Legislature's 12th District post, was left holding on to a slim margin of victory over troubled Republican incumbent Will Collins as final vote tallies came in late Tuesday night.
Unofficial results from the Niagara County Board of Elections late Tuesday showed Speranza finishing the night with a 19-vote lead.
Because the race is so close — 1,027 votes to 1,008 votes — a recount is in order, according to Niagara County Democratic Party chair Chris Borgatti.
The race was thrust into the spotlight in recent days after a criminal warrant was issued for Collins stemming from an incident where police say he slashed the tire of a man's truck outside of a West Avenue bar in Lockport on Oct. 26. While he was reportedly out of town on Tuesday, he is expected to turn himself in to Lockport police this morning.
Speranza said she is, "very grateful to the voters in Legislative District 12."
"I met a lot of interesting and interested people while walking through the neighborhoods," she said. "I had generous support from the Niagara County Democratic Committee, my family and friends, the CSEA and CWA unions and solid advice from the NY Working Families Party."
If the vote tally holds up, Speranza said she is looking forward to working for all of Niagara County with her fellow legislators.
"We may not always agree on the what or the how, but I'll focus on what we can do together," she said.
Collins is one of five Republicans who were involved in contested races for Niagara County Legislature on Tuesday.
In the other contested races, unofficial results were as follows:
Third District, Niagara Falls
Chris McKimmie, a Niagara Falls police officer who ran with the endorsement of the county Republicans, defeated endorsed Democrat Noelle Citarella, 1,407 to 1,211.
"I feel great," McKimmie said during a brief interview by phone on election night. "I feel very relieved. Running a political campaign, especially as a first-time candidate, can be stressful and difficult."
McKimmie said he believes his key to victory was having a "strong ground campaign" that included knocking on more than 3,000 doors and talking to thousands of residents face-to-face in the district.
He said his No. 1 priority heading into office would be working with the Niagara County Sheriff's Office to tackle crime and improve public safety. He said he'd like to expand upon recent efforts to add surveillance cameras countywide to include the Town of Niagara and the City of Niagara Falls.
In talking with voters, McKimmie said most considered crime to be the No. 1 issue facing both communities.
"My focus is going to be public safety," McKimmie said.
McKimmie said he also heard from many voters that they do not favor state mandates, including bail reform legislation and efforts to ban the installation of natural gas as part of new construction projects.
"They don't like the state and big government control over local government," he said. "Local voters feel like they're not being heard in Albany."
Sixth District, Niagara Falls
Incumbent Republican Chris Voccio defeated Democratic challenger Gaelan Baillie 932 to 562.
Ninth District, North Tonawanda
Incumbent Republican Randy Bradt, the legislature's longtime majority caucus leader, defeated Democrat Timothy S. Osborn, 2,327 to 1,371.
13th District, Lockport
Incumbent Rick Abbott, a member of the Working Families Party who caucuses with the Republican majority, defeated Democratic challenger Bernadette Smith, 1,822 to 1,112.
The following county lawmakers ran uncontested and were reelected on Tuesday:
First District
Lewiston Republican Irene Myers.
Second District
Lewiston Republican Rebecca Wydysh
Fourth District
Niagara Falls Democrat Jeffrey Elder
Fifth District
Niagara Falls Democrat Chris Robins
Seventh District
North Tonawanda Republican Jesse Gooch
Eighth District
North Tonawanda Republican Richard Andres
10th District
Wilson Republican David Godfrey
11th District
Lockport Republican Tony Nemi
14th District
Newfane Republican Shawn Foti
15th District
Royalton Republican Michael Hill
