Rochester, N.Y. -- In the Monroe County Legislature, Democrats needed one seat to upset the balance, but they did not get it, nor did they lose any ground. Republicans held on to their slim 15 to 14 advantage. With 15 of 29 seats on the ballot, Democrats had hoped to gain a majority and invested a lot of resources in campaign materials.
In a surprise upset, Democrat Mary Ellen Heyman lost to Republican challenger Mary Joyce D’Aurizio in the race for Irondequoit Town Supervisor. Heyman had replaced David Schantz as Supervisor in 2006.
D’Aurizio credited the voters of Irondequoit for supporting “fiscal responsibility and common sense leadership.”
“The residents will be listened to,” D’Aurizio said. “And we’re going to work together collaboratively to promote a most positive image of Irondequoit again."
Heyman said, "I think the voters spoke pretty loud and clear that our vision for the future and the things that we thought were important in town, managing taxes, repairing infrastructure, the environment, all of those things, for whatever reason, really didn't resonate with people."
Republican Patrick O’Flynn easily won a third term as Monroe County Sheriff, surviving the challenge by his own former undersheriff, Dan Greene who’d served in that position for five years before resigning in ’07.
O'Flynn said, "It's an honor to have the community come out with this level of support and say, 'We will keep you in the position you're in, and we appreciate the service you're providing.'"
Democrat Robert Duffy will serve a second term as Rochester’s mayor, having run an uncontested race. Duffy, former Chief of Police and very well known in the area, has enjoyed huge popularity in Rochester during his first term as mayor. Votes for write-in candidates have not yet been counted.
In the race for Monroe County Court Judge, Republican Judge John DeMarco defeated Democrat Brian McCarthy. Republican judges Alex Renzi and Kenneth Fisher won seats on the State Supreme Court.
Overall voter turnout was low in the election. Final numbers are not yet official, but the Board of Elections is estimating a 32% turnout countywide, and a citywide turnout in the low 20% range. The record low turnout in Monroe County was 32.5% in 2007.
