Gay marriage vote big factor
By Kevin E. Foley
In a surprise development Republican State Senator Steven Saland finds himself locked in a tough nomination race in the aftermath of Thursday’s (Sept. 13) primary election. According to several published reports the results for the new 41st Senate district had Saland ahead of his opponent Neil Di Carlo by only 42 votes. The Dutchess County Board of Elections is reported declaring there are still over 500 absentee ballots that will be counted next week providing unanticipated drama to the race. The district includes parts of both Dutchess and Putnam Counties, including Philipstown
DiCarlo, who was not expected to mount a serous challenge, ran largely in protest of Saland’s vote in favor of gay marriage legislation in 2011. Saland has served in the senate for 22 years.
Although DiCarlo is from Putnam County he garnered an almost equal number of votes as Saland in Dutchess where the great majority of the voting took place.
The winner of the primary race will face Democrat Terry Gipson on November 6.
