The votes are in and we have a winner folks. Our new Senator from District 48 upstate is Darrel Aubertine. He's the first Democratic candidate to win in this neck of the woods since the 19th century. People were tired of the old GOP political scheme down in Albany and knew the implications that their race entailed. This area was thought to be heavily Republican and a sure thing for Will Barclay, who's father was the Republican Senator here years ago. Well Barclay is walking away from this ugly race with nothing, and Aubertine is going to have the chance to create real reform in our state.
From The Watertown Daily Times:
10 p.m. Darrel Aubertine appears to have soundly beaten his Republican opponent William Barclay in unofficial results with Aubertine at 27,532 and Barclay at 25,001 with nearly 100 percent of precincts reporting.
The divisive election pitted the 54 year-old farmer from Cape Vincent against the 39 year-old attorney from Pulaski. Barclay hit Aubertine with ads claiming Aubertine was gaining financially from not recusing himself from wind power votes while Aubetine's ads painted Barclay as oneof the landed gentry who closed off fishing rights to locals on his Pulaski family property.
Both party machines backed their candidates with cash to try and help close the power gap in Albany.
Watertown Daily Times research showed that there has not been a Democrat to hold the 48th Senate seat since at least 1880.
This was also the second most expensive race, with totals looking to exceed $2 million dollars when all is said and done. Despite all the negative campaigning, many residents turned out despite the nasty weather and gave a solid amount of votes to put Aubertine into the state Senate.
Again, congratulations Senator Aubertine!
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