UTICA- Since the November elections, power has shifted control of both local and state governments. This election cycle, the power shift going in the favor of the democrats.

Whenever this happens, there are always concerns from the entering minority party. This year it’s the Republicans. Senator Joe Griffo spoke to us about his concerns moving forward.

"All of the elected officials will be democrats. My concern with that is that it's a monolithic kind of government. Where you don't have a lot of checks and balances because everyone is of the same political persuasion. You don't have geographic balance." said the Senator

Going forwards the senator believes this shift in power towards one side may set up a few road blocks down the road.

"Local issues won't be a problem because we can advance and advocate for local concerns. But when you talk about state wide policy issues that we might have where there is differences in opinion as a result of their majority and a super majority that they might have it will be much more difficult to be heard and get things accomplished."

With Anthony Brindisi moving to Washington, Assembly Women Elect Marianne Buttenschon will take Brindisi's seat in the assembly. Griffo and Buttenschon will be working closely together to address issues here locally. The Senator is confident they can both work together.

"I think we will have a good working relationship, I know the assemblywomen elect. We have already had good conversations on how we can work together on the important issues that we have in this region."

Views on which issues should be tackled first are different on both sides of the aisle.

"I think they have more of a focus on social issues which are important. But I believe that we should have more of a focus on economic issues. We have high taxation and excessive regulation and mandates and I would like to see that changed too so that there is a greater affordability for residents who are living in New York. We see an excessive outward migration in this state would should be recognized and dealt with. And the problem is not the weather as the governor has stated, it's the excessive taxes, regulations and mandates."

The Senator is to lose his seat in the State's Energy Committee at the end of his term. Which committee he will sit on will be decided towards the end of the year.