BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Saying that the best is yet to come, incumbent Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, a Democrat, declared victory Tuesday over Republican challenger and state Assemblyman Ray Walter.
Poloncarz will wake up Wednesday as the first Democrat since the days of Dennis Gorski to win a second term as county executive. He told supporters here at Hotel Lafayette that he has a mandate of voters in his second term.
"To the people of Erie County, it is a priviledge to serve as your County Executive. I am humbled that you have given me the mantle of County Executive for four more years," Poloncarz said
Thanking his supporters and steadfast backers in organized labor, Poloncarz said voters reaffirmed the course the county is on.
"One Buffalo. One Erie County, united to become the best community we can be," said Poloncarz, D-Erie County.
Poloncarz gave his victory speech late Tuesday night, saying he's excited to lead the county once more.
"To the people of Erie County, it is a priviledge to serve as your County Executive. I am humbled that you have given me the mantle of County Executive for four more years," Poloncarz said, "and to you, thank you because I know working together the best is yet to come. Thank you to the people of Erie County."
It was a hard fought campaign, but an uphill battle for Walter, who says he is proud of the campaign that he ran.
"We ran a campaign about ideas, about the future of Erie County. We knew this would be an uphill battle from the start but we took on the challenge anyway," Walter said.
"Don't have exactly all the numbers in but it appears to be the largest vote total and margin of victory ever for a Democratic candidate, so I want to thank the people of Erie County, sending me back into office saying we like what you do and we know you can do more," Poloncarz said.
Poloncarz, humbled by his victory, had a 2-to-1 margin of victory. He'll be up against a Republican-controlled legislature, something he had during his first term in office.