What an election day for Chris Collins. Two of the county executive's three handpicked candidates running for the legislature won, unseating a pair of democratic incumbents.
Former Channel 2 reporter Lynne Dixon and Canisius College political science professor Dr. Kevin Hardwick have defeated Bob Reynolds and Michelle Ianello respectively.
Collins says "a very good night for the taxpayers in breaking the back of that super majority that's been a thorn in the taxpayers side now for almost two years, I think we're going to change the debate in our legislature and it will be all for the positive."
The Dixon and Hardwick wins combined with a victory by republican Dino Fudoli who takes over the old Kathy Konst seat reduces the democrats lead from 12-3 to 9-6, meaning anything Collins might veto cannot be automatically overridden.
Dixon says its time to put taxpayers first. "People have become fed up with what they've seen...and they wanted a change. Hardwick believes its time for both sides of the aisle to work together as a team and acting like adults. "The politcs of the sandbox has got to end."
Legislature races by district:
1st Incumbent (D) Dan Kozub 66% Challenger (R) Vincent Tobia 34%
2nd Incumbent (D) Tim Kennedy (unopposed)
3rd Incumbent Barbara Miller Williams (unopposed)
4th Incumbent (R) Ray Walter 64% Challenger (D) Justin Rooney 36%
5th Challenger (R) Dino Fudoli 45% Incumbent (D) Diane Terranova 36%
6th Incumbent (D) Maria Whyte (unopposed)
7th Incumbent (D) Betty Jean Grant (unopposed)
8th Incumbent (D) Tom Mazur 60% Challenger (R) Ted Morton 40%
9th Challenger (D) Christine Bove 42% Challenger (R) Brian Wirth 39% Incumbent (C) Tim Wroblewski 19%
10th Challenger (R) Kevin Hardwick 61% Incumbent (D) Michelle Ianello 39%
11th Incumbent (D) Lynn Marinelli 65% Challenger (R) Kevin Curtin 35%
12th Challenger (R) Lynne Dixon 60% Incumbent (D) Bob Reynolds 40%
13th Incumbent (R) John Mills (unopposed)
14th Incumbent (D) Tom Loughran 51% Challenger (R) Shelly Schratz 49% (absentee ballots still to be counted)
15th Incumbent (R) Ed Rath 60% Challenger (D) Francina Spoth 40%
Toll Free: 800.616.WBEN
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