Incumbent Robert Reilly, D-Newtonville, was reelected to represent the 109th District in the New York State Assembly, earning his third term as an assemblyman, beating Republican and Conservative challenger John Wasielewski at the polls on Election Day.
The votes came in with 38,711 for Reilly and 21,942 for Wasielewski.
The most important thing, I think, is that the people are supportive of the way I have served in the past four years, Reilly said.
Reilly said he would be celebrating by congratulating the thousands of people who volunteered for his campaign. He said he and his campaign volunteers had to raise most of the money needed in his campaign.
`The Democratic Party provided me very minimal support,` he said. `[They] said, we’re not in the business of funding landslides.`
Speaking about his defeat, Wasielewski said, `I’m naturally disappointed, but considering the way the campaign went, I think we did pretty good.`
Wasielewski credited his campaign as working hard against negative factors such as having no name recognition and a low-budget campaign.
`So, it could have been better,` he said. `But it could have been a hell of a lot worse.`
Reilly was first elected in 2005. In his past two terms, he has authored several bills that have become law, including one that authorized the Town of Clifton Park to issue $150 tax rebates to every taxpayer in town and a law that created a 1 percent base proportion tax cap for the Town of Colonie in 2007.
In his previous term, Reilly donated his salary to local charities.
Wasielewski was endorsed by the Republican and Conservative parties.
While he admits he does not come from a political background, Wasielewski said he has an extensive military background. His election platform included limiting the number of new taxes for homeowners and imposing term limits on Assembly positions.
The 109th Assembly District is home to more than 132,000 people; more than 95,264 of whom are voters. It encompasses parts of Albany County and southern Saratoga County.
Reilly celebrated his victory at the American Legion Joseph E. Zaloga Post No. 1520 alongside several other area Democrats, who also were victorious in the polls.
Reilly said he recognized that Wasielewski fought hard, and he appreciated that his opponent ran a `very non-nasty campaign.`
When asked if there was doubt at any point in his campaign that he might not win, Reilly replied, `Never.`
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