Maloney Retains Seat in a Republican Year

Serino and Odell wins display party strengths

By Kevin E. Foley

Voters in the 18th Congressional district elected incumbent Democrat Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney to a second term in office in an intensely competitive race with former Republican incumbent Nan Hayworth.

Overcoming a national Republican surge that saw the U.S. Senate change majorities and the House extend Republican dominance, Maloney managed to win a slim majority of 84,415 to Hayworth’s 81,625. The district includes Orange and Putnam Counties along with parts of Westchester.

Late in the campaign Maloney received considerable support from former boss and President Bill Clinton, who made a television commercial, and presumed presidential candidate and former Secretary of State and U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, who made a campaign appearance and recorded a telephone message.

Hayworth conceded to Maloney in a phone call the day after the election despite the close margin and a planned state recount, telling her supporters “we don’t see a path to victory.” The results remain unofficial until the New York State Board of Elections certifies the outcome in a few weeks.

In his remarks to supporters after the results were in, Maloney, a Cold Spring area resident, said:

I want to congratulate Congresswoman Nan Hayworth on a hard fought campaign and the passion of her and her supporters; Hudson Valley voters have once again have spoken and we have won. We have fought this campaign as Democrats and Republicans but we must end it as Americans, proud of our common country and committed to put aside our partisan differences and work for the good of all. When I wake up tomorrow, I’m going to keep fighting for all hardworking middle-class families in the Hudson Valley. We have so much work to do to create jobs and grow our economy.

Serino edges Gipson

Despite a strong re-election win by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo New York State Republicans won a new majority in the State Senate, which included the defeat of one-term incumbent Terry Gipson of Rhinebeck by Sue Serino of Hyde Park. Serino, leveraging both Republican and Conservative Party support, won 40,473 votes to Gipson’s 36,732. The district is largely in Dutchess County with only a small part in Putnam, including Philipstown.

State party campaigns and other interests, which included an abundance of negative attacks by phone, mail and television, heavily funded both campaigns. Gipson appeared to close a wider polling gap late in the campaign but he apparently could not overcome the demographic advantage of the Republican and Conservative alliance, which was divided when he won the last time.

Galef wins 99 percent

Long-serving Democrat Sandy Galef who ran for re-election without opposition will represent Philipstown once again in the state Assembly.

Odell and Bartolotti easy victors

Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell, running on the Republican and Conservative lines, won by a 20 percent margin over challenger Democrat Sam Oliverio, an outgoing county legislator from Putnam Valley. Odell won 15,193 votes to 10,203 for Oliverio, according to the unofficial totals from the Putnam County Board of Elections.

In a statement to her supporters Odell said:

I cannot fully express my gratitude to the voters, the people of Putnam County, my family, friends and neighbors for giving me their vote of confidence. Having 60 percent of the voters cast their ballot in my favor shows me, that not only are people willing to put their faith in me, but they approve of the work my administration has done over the past three years … my administration will continue to bring people to the table to find solutions that work to move Putnam County forward. We will be continuing our partnerships with the chambers of commerce, the not-for-profit community and other local municipalities to create opportunities for economic development, lower costs and provide quality services for the residents of Putnam County.

Michael Bartolotti, the long-serving deputy county clerk under retiring County Clerk Dennis Sant, leveraged the same party support as Odell and won even more handily over Democrat Lithgow Osborne of Garrison by a 15,744 to 9,065 margin.

“Thank you Putnam County for putting your faith in me as your next county clerk,” Bartolotti said in a Facebook post.

Osborne remained undaunted by his defeat, telling The Paper: “I felt the experience was much more gratifying than I could have hoped for. I did well for someone who has never run for office before.” He said he intends to remain actively involved in the local Democratic Party and would definitely consider running for office again.