Election 2010 Granville Picks Hicks

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Newly elected supervisor Matt Hicks takes a moment with newly elected board member Mary Emery at a small victory celebration at Bernado's after winning their respective races Nov. 2, 2010.

Hicks picked

Republicans take both local contests handily

 

The contest ended as it began – cordially.

Just before 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Republican candidate for Granville town supervisor Matt Hicks took a phone call from his opponent, Democrat Tom Scott, conceding the 2010 election.

Tuesday’s decisive 271-vote win by Hicks was a sharp contrast to last year when absentee ballots proved the difference for the late Rodger Hurley who won a close race over Mary Emery.

By virtue of his victory, Hicks will serve a one-year term as supervisor. He would have to run again next year if he wishes to serve a full term

 “Obviously I’m very excited. I thought it was going to be a very close race. Tom was a very challenging opponent. He worked very hard and I thought it was going to be extremely close,” Hicks said Tuesday night from Bernardo’s.

With all districts reporting in, Hicks won a clear victory, 960-689, a 271-vote margin on a day that saw heavy voting for a non-presidential election. Hicks said he was somewhat surprised by the extent of the win, personally expecting something much closer.

“I have to give a lot of credit to my committee and the people who worked to get the vote out. I was very happy with the job they did,” Hicks said.

Scott said he wished Hicks good luck when the two spoke. “Am I disappointed I lost? Sure I am but I know the town is in good hands,” Scott said.

 “Matt ran a very good campaign and I have no qualms over it. I think he’ll run the town very well, he’s a good leader, and I have no problems with it. At least if I had to lose to someone it would be to someone like Matt Hicks. I feel very comfortable with him and I think most people felt the same way obviously,” Scott said.

Hicks said he wasn’t sure how the contest would go until it was over and the votes were tallied. “I imagine other candidates get some positive feedback and I got some positive feedback but I anticipated it was going to be very close margin, I’m actually surprised at the margin, but I have to give credit to the team for getting (people) out to vote,” Hicks said.

Sweeping to an easy victory by a vast margin, Emery won a one-year term on the town board – a seat she was appointed to earlier this year after Beverly Tatko was named to take over as interim supervisor after Hurley’s death.

Emery gained 443 more votes than Democratic challenger Linda Ellingsworth, 1,022 to 579.

Emery said she couldn’t account for the vote differential between the two, but was happy with the victory nonetheless.

“It’s always good to win; it makes up for last year a little bit,” Emery said.

“Seven elections and lost the big one,” she added. “It makes me feel good; I know Matt and I will work together.”

Ellingsworth was upbeat despite the loss.

“We worked really hard. We had some great support and we really appreciate the support that we had. I just wish the newly elected officials well and hope everything goes great for the town,” Ellingsworth said.

Projected winners

In other unofficial results, U.S. Rep. Scott Murphy lost his re-election bid in the 20th Congressional District to Republican challenger Chris Gibson by nearly 12 percentage points.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate was projected as the winner of Republican Carl Paladino by a wide margin. In the two races for U.S. Senate, Democrats Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand retained their seats easily as results followed polls and projections.

For the comptroller’s office incumbent Thomas DiNapoli fell to Republican challenger Harry Wilson. 

In the race to replace Cuomo as attorney general, Republican Dan Donovan topped Democrat Eric T. Schneiderman locally, 562-909, but trailed by a 51-47 percent margin.

Running unopposed were Republican incumbents Elizabeth O’C Little for state senator and Tony Jordan for State Assembly.