Story Created:
Nov 6, 2007 at 11:48 PM EST
Story Updated:
Nov 7, 2007 at 10:28 AM EST
It was a big night for Democrats on Election Day in many of the area's races....from Utica Mayor, to District Attorney, to Common Council, the Democrats found themselves the majority in City of Utica government for the first time in decades.
Democratic candidate David Roefaro took the Mayoral race with 5,955 votes against Julian's 4,828, with 50 of 51 districts reporting. He celebrated with friends and family at the Chesterfield Restaurant in Utica.
"It's a great, great feeling," Roefaro said. "I couldn't have done it without the help of these people here. The people wanted change and its time to go into a new direction."
Roefaro said there will be a "transition team" that he will put together to take into office with him, but he has not released any specifics about who would be on the team.
Current Mayor Timothy J. Julian said he hopes that Roefaro delivers the positive change he promised during his campaign.
It still isn't clear whether incoming Utica Mayor, Democrat David Roefaro, will have a Council President of the same party. Right now, Republican Council President candidate Mello Testa trails Democrat trails Democrat Bill Morehouse by less than 300 votes.
With anywhere from 650 to 900 absentee ballots yet to be counted in Utica, Testa is far from conceding this race. Either Testa himself or a representative will be at the Board of Elections in the coming days as those absentee ballots are opened. Testa expects there will be a recount in his race.
Incumbent Democrat District Attorney, Scott McNamara celebrated his victory at Delmonico's Steakhouse in Utica, ending the night with 32,538 votes against challenger David Longeretta's 15,884.
The exception inthe "democratic sweep" came in the form of Republican Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, who has been in the office for the past 11 months, will continue as Oneida County Executive with 27,532 to Democrat challenger Leon Koziol's 19,435.
"Now we put a plan together...we stablize county finances...we work on some economic development...we work on some of the problems...and the next four years is an action plan," Picente said.
"I'm not afraid of my adversaries," Koziol said. "I'm not afraid to take on causes, and you folks should be proud to know you stuck by what was good today. Change. And what we have in terms of a very productive progressive future for this area."
Koziol went on to say that he'll go back to doing what he loves - being an attorney.
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