Republican incumbent retains state Assembly Seat
After a tough campaign for the 105th Assembly District, George Amedore was able to pull enough support from voters to win the election.
Amedore, R-Rotterdam, who was elected during a special election, retained his seat for the Assembly and defeated opponent Angelo Santabarbara, D-Rotterdam, according to unofficial election results.
Schenectady County proved to be a closer race than Montgomery County, which had election results giving Amedore a substantial lead compared the Schenectady’s tight race.
Unofficial results from 100 percent of Schenectady County had Amedore with 11,493 votes, 52.7 percent, and Santabarbara with 10,282 votes, 47.15 percent. Montgomery County unofficial results with all election districts reporting had Amedore with 8,760 votes, 68.09 percent, and Santabarbara trailing with 4,097 votes, 31.85 percent.
Farley predicted Amedore would win during his victory speech earlier in the night and he turned out to be correct.
We got a lot of work to do, said Amedore during his victory speech. `We need to get New York back in business. We need government off our backs and out of our pockets. We need to create jobs in this county and the assembly district and I am the person to do that in Albany.`
While Santabarbara hoped to bring change to Albany, he was pleased with the voter turnout in support for him.
`We got a good percentage of the vote and we went against a well known and well-financed incumbent,` said Santabarbara. `The campaign was about bringing change to Albany and that is a message I will to continue to send as a Schenectady County Legislature.`
When asked why he thought voters decided to elect Amedore he said he was pleased with the turnout.
`I’m simply going to say that I ran a great campaign and that message is to bring some change to Albany,` said Santabarbara.
The campaign saw many twists and turns. Amedore filled a lawsuit against Santabarbara’s petition for the Change Albany Now party line alleging Santabarbara had committed fraud with his petition. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Santabarbara and said no fraud had been committed.
Then Santabarbara filed a fair campaign compliant against Amedore, which Amedore was found to have violated one principal. After Santabarbara filed the complaint he also released tapes he alleged proved his job was threatened by Amedore, but the conversation in question Amedore said was taken out of context and he never threatened his job.
`This has been a long drawn out election,` said Amedore. `It was a tough battle, but I am very honored to receive the support and mandate to go back to Albany to represent the 105th Assembly District.`
Amedore said he ran a clean campaign and he talked about the issues and the specifics of how jobs can be created from the private sector. He said he wanted to continue the work he has started since he got elected, because he is `making ground and picking up steam` on his projects.
`My message resonates with the people,` said Amedore. `I come from the private sector, I’m a frustrated tax payer like they are and I am as concerned business owner in the state of New York. I don’t like what the status-quo in Albany has been leaving our children, a lot of debt.“
