Democratic state Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr., supported on election night by his mother-in-law, Lucille Puricelli, (from l.) his wife, Dawn, and mother Grace, will represent the 15th Senate District for a fourth term.
Photo by Michael V. Cusenza
Cuomo cruised, but the state Senate Democrats were bruised on Tuesday night as control of the Legislature’s upper body shifted to the GOP.
Incumbent Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo earned his second four-year term by beating Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino by nearly 500,000 votes. State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, both Democrats, also won reelection.
And in what came down to the only area race for state office, Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) survived a national Republican wave and beat back a spirited campaign from Rego Park resident Michael Conigliaro to retain his 15th Senate District seat.
Conigliaro, who received about 43 percent of the vote to Addabbo’s 52, conceded the race around 11 p.m.
“Tonight I called Joe Addabbo and congratulated him on his reelection to the State Senate,” Conigliaro said in a statement. “It was a tough race but I am very proud of the campaign we ran and feel humbled by the strong support I received throughout the district. I am also grateful for the love and support of my family, friends and neighbors which sustained me during the past few months.”
Addabbo, who greeted supporters at a victory party at Woodhaven House, said it always comes back to the people in the district.
“In 2008, the people of the 15th Senatorial District honored me with the opportunity to help others and be their voice in Albany,” Addabbo said in a statement. “On Tuesday, Nov. 4, they honored me again. I greatly appreciate all the support bestowed upon me by my constituents. I believe it is a privilege to be an elected official and serve all the people of my district. I will continue to put people first, before politics, and work hard to address the community issues that concern my constituents. And as I go back to work, I look forward to being there for my people whenever needed.”
However, in brief remarks at the Woodhaven post-election party, Addabbo acknowledged the palpable frustration of an electorate that also delivered the U.S. Senate to the GOP.
“There’s a lot of angry people out there, a lot of angry people who feel that government isn’t working for them,” he said as heads nodded in agreement.
Addabbo went on to say that even he finds the wheels of the bureaucracy maddening at times.
“I’m not happy sometimes, too,” he noted. “I have to battle a mayor over a [proposed] homeless shelter [in Glendale], and a Rockaway ferry… So, celebrate tonight. Work begins tomorrow.”
Democratic District Leader Frank Gulluscio added that while touring district polling sites throughout the day with Addabbo, he could sense “there definitely was a Republican sentiment” across the borough.
“More than once, I heard ‘We voted Republican—except for Addabbo,’” Gulluscio said.
In other ballot news, the three referendums—revision of the state’s redistricting procedure by creating an independent panel appointed by legislators; permitting electronic distribution of state legislative bills; and the Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014—all passed.
By Michael V. Cusenza
