Incumbents retain seats
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Jack Davis acknowledges the cheers of fellow Democrats at the Ellicott Square Building. With him is his daughter, Star. Photo by Patrick McPartland

The 2006 November election is now in the record books, with residents voting to keep their current congressman, assemblyman and state senator in office.

Congress

In a tight race for the 26th Congressional District between Republican incumbent Rep. Thomas Reynolds and Democrat Jack Davis, Reynolds was declared the victor.

Reynolds was also on the Conservative line and Davis on the Independence and Working Families lines.

The margin of victory was close, with Reynolds receiving 52 percent of the votes, 102,846, to Davis' 95,449.

Reynolds, who was first sworn in to Congress in January 1999, will serve another two-year term.

"I believe these races are a choice between two candidates," Reynolds said. "Jack Davis and both the national Democrats and the big national labor unions were one side, and I and ultimately the (Republican) national party on my side were on the other. It was a hard-fought, spirited race."

Rep. Thomas Reynolds (R-Amherst) thanks supporters gathered at the Statler Towers after winning re-election on Nov. 7. Photo by Albert T. McCracken Jr.

Reynolds said he believes his political past aided in his victory.

"I think it was my experience as a legislator and as a congressman. It was getting my message out, having enough money to get my message out, and finally, putting together what I think is the most aggressive get out and vote campaign," he said. "Our approach and effort prevailed. We won 52-48 (percent) as we get into the final numbers over Jack, and I think it was ultimately a good campaign."

Reynolds doesn't believe his ability to secure grants and funding locally will be affected by the majority change in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. In addition to his years in Congress, Reynolds said he spent numerous years in the county Legislature as the Republican leader for the minority.

"You learn how to take care of your people, and you learn how to take care of your region," Reynolds said.

"I redefined both relationships with the governor and with the Senate," he added. "I see the same thing happening now. We still have a Republican president and will for the next two years. The election is in the past now, and we need to focus on working together; that is the most important part - working together."

Reynolds' opponent, Davis, said it is the people who will suffer from his loss.

"I would say it was the multinationals who won and the people who lost," he said. "The money he (Reynolds) spent on this campaign came not from the 26th District but from the nationals."

Davis, who pressed a note-worthy fight against the incumbent, said the October storm may have been what swayed voters to Reynolds' side.

" I was actually right even with him before the (Mark) Foley affair," Davis said. "But when the October storm hit, he got a lot of media attention."

Davis also noted the amount of advertising that went into the campaign.

"He outspent me by at least 2 to 1," he said. "There were a lot of negative ads out there about me. Unfortunately, people can be swayed by advertising."

Despite the loss, Davis said he will continue to be active within the political arena. With the Democrats in the majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, he said his voice will continue to be heard.

"We have a terrible imbalance of trade," Davis said. "The middle class is being hammered, our manufacturing industries are being exported. (With the shift in Congress) I know I have a more receptive Congress then I did under the Bush administration. We got rid of a lot of free traders. We are in a stronger position now; the country is in a better position."

Davis said his experience in commerce will be pivotal in changing trade practices.

"Last month, China set a new record of imported goods to the country," he said. "I recognize the problem. I have more experience than anybody in Washington, or in Western New York when it comes to trade. I have been involved in international commerce for 40 years."

As for the possibility of another run for Congress, Davis said he is keeping his options open.

"It's not the time to make that decision just yet," he said.

NYS Assembly

State Assemblyman James P. Hayes, a Republican, was elected to his fifth term in the 148th District by the largest margin in his political career.

In Erie County, incumbent Hayes, also endorsed by the Conservative party, defeated Democratic challenger Susan J. Grelick, also on the Working Families line, with 25,040 votes to 13,336 votes. He took 63 percent of the vote.

"I am very grateful to the residents of North Tonawanda, Amherst and Pendleton for expressing their confidence in me once again and sending me back to work for them," Hayes said. "I'm looking forward to the term."

Leading up to the vote, Hayes said he recognized Grelick's position in the community.

"I took the race very seriously. Everyone knows she has unlimited resources," he said.

He put his focus on his work, saying that elections aren't won in the two to three months leading up to them but the job done every month of the year.

With a new governor for the first time in 12 years, Hayes said he will work very closely with Gov.-elect Eliot Spitzer to accomplish the goals Spitzer set during his campaign to reform Albany, lower taxes and cut spending.

"If they prove to be hollow, election-year promises then I'll be right there to hold him accountable," Hayes said. "I think we need massive tax relief from Albany in order to jump-start Western New York's economy."

Grelick said that although she didn't win the Assembly seat she will continue to be an advocate for the Town of Amherst.

"I will be extremely involved in the community as an advocate for issues in Amherst," said Grelick, noting that that includes monitoring the budget and ensuring that taxpayers get value for their money.

Facing a four-term incumbent Grelick said her campaign focused on talking with residents one on one and hearing their concerns. She said she will take those concerns and work for changes.

"I feel I can still be much more effective, especially as part of the majority in the Assembly with a Democratic governor," she said.

Grelick said that with the vote concluded, she is disappointed for Amherst and thinks the town would be in a better position if it had an assembly member who was in the majority.

Senate

Sen. Mary Lou Rath was elected to her eighth term in the 61st New York State Senate District. Endorsed by the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties, she received 66 percent of the votes, with 50,090. Her challenger, Democrat Richard L. Woll, received 26,127 votes.

Rath was first elected to the state Senate in November 1993 and was the first woman elected to the 61st Senate District.

"I am happy to see the majority return to office," she said about the state results.

Rath said she plans to continue her position as chairwoman of the state's tourism committee, adding that tourism is the second largest business in the state behind agriculture.

The change in governors won't change the most important issues in the state, she said, adding that that includes workers compensation and Medicaid reform, as well keeping property taxes from rising.

"We will continue to try and get items through," Rath said, adding that she hopes Spitzer will approve some resolutions still not adopted.

Woll did not return The Bee's phone call.

(Editor's note: Clarence Editor Kim Karcher contributed to this article.)