Democrat Makes History on the N. Shore as GOP Wins Big On South Shore
Democrat makes history on the N. Shore as GOP wins big on South Shore
By TOM WROBLESKI and TEVAH PLATT
STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Democrat Matthew Titone made history last night, becoming the first openly gay lawmaker to be elected on Staten Island when he easily won a three-way special election for the vacant North Shore Assembly seat.
"It's a good day for the [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] community," Titone, 46, the son of the late Judge Vito Titone, told supporters in the Staaten, West Brighton. "Except, I guess, for gay Republicans."
In the South Shore special, Republican Lou Tobacco won handily, beating back questions about his Island residency and a late write-in campaign against him.
Tobacco, 34, thanked South Shore voters for showing confidence in him.
"We start now," he said at Nino's Restaurant in Grasmere. "I'm going to hit the ground running. I won't let you down."
With turnout particularly low in both races, Titone got 2,888 votes, or 49 percent, in the heavily Democratic North Shore. Republican-Conservative Rose Margarella got 1,866 votes, or 32 percent. Independence Party candidate Kelvin Alexander pulled 1,122 votes, good for 19 percent.
On the reliably Republican South Shore, it was Tobacco with 2,234 votes, or 70 percent. John Mulia, who was running on the Democratic, Independence and Conservative lines, got 976 votes, or 30 percent.
Tallies were not available last night for write-in candidate Todd Tabacco, who claimed he got between 700 and 800 votes. Write-in votes will not be tabulated until the borough Board of Elections does its standard recounting of the machine vote, which won't come before April 4.
'A POSITIVE SIGN'
"I think the North Shore is a very inclusive community, and people are basing votes on [the candidates'] abilities," borough Democratic Party chairman John Gulino said of Titone's victory. "It's a very positive sign that we're looking at people as people."
Titone, who ran unsuccessfully for state Senate last year, replaces Assemblyman John Lavelle, the Democratic Party chairman who died of a stroke in January.
"This victory is very bittersweet," said Titone, who was also on the Working Families Party line. "I would never be here but for John Lavelle's confidence in me. I make a promise to the Lavelle family: I will do my best to make him proud."
"I'm completely ecstatic for Matt," said Lavelle's son, Daniel, who lost a bid for the Democratic nomination for his late father's seat. "I think he will do a perfect job of carrying on my father's legacy."
Speaking at Nino's, Ms. Margarella, 53, said that while many people told her they were sorry about her loss last night, "I'm not sorry. In my heart of hearts, I thank God for putting me here."
"She's to be commended," said borough GOP chairman John Friscia. "Rose ran a good, honest, reputable campaign."
Alexander, 50, could not be reached for comment last night.
A CONTROVERSY
Tobacco lived in Arizona for six months last year, and with the state constitution mandating that Assembly candidates live in the district for 12 months before election day, Tabacco and others had said Tobacco was ineligible to run.
"Talk about a carpetbagger," Mulia, 53, said at the Staaten. "As soon as a seat came up, he came back."
But Tobacco said voters responded to his message of Albany reform and improving traffic conditions and health care.
"The people of the South Shore care about the issues," said Tobacco, who lost an Assembly election to Eric Vitaliano in 1996. "At the end of the day, that's what they voted."
Tobacco also ran on the Albany Reform Party line.
"The people chose wisely," Rep. Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) said in a telephone interview. "Lou Tobacco will serve with honor and distinction in Albany."
The South Shore seat became available when Vincent Ignizio was elected to the City Council in January.
"I'm going to sit back, and stay involved in the community, stay active with the parties and in the communities," said Mulia.
Tabacco, 26, who handed out rubber stamps with his name on them to voters so they wouldn't misspell his name in the voting booth, said he was "really happy" with his results.
"I think it says something," he said. "People want choices, they want new leadership. They want new faces in politics. Next time we'll be on the ballot and it'll be a different ballgame."
Friscia called Tabacco's campaign "entertaining" and "amusing."
"Maybe it's a cry for attention that he's not receiving in other parts of his life," Friscia said.
Tom Wrobleski may be reached at wrobleski@siadvance.com. Read his polit.bureau blog at http://www.silive.com/newslogs/politics/
For all information related to this story please see:
http://www.silive.com/news/advance/index.ssf?/base/news/1175083204140580.xml&coll=1
By TOM WROBLESKI and TEVAH PLATT
STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Democrat Matthew Titone made history last night, becoming the first openly gay lawmaker to be elected on Staten Island when he easily won a three-way special election for the vacant North Shore Assembly seat.
"It's a good day for the [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] community," Titone, 46, the son of the late Judge Vito Titone, told supporters in the Staaten, West Brighton. "Except, I guess, for gay Republicans."
In the South Shore special, Republican Lou Tobacco won handily, beating back questions about his Island residency and a late write-in campaign against him.
Tobacco, 34, thanked South Shore voters for showing confidence in him.
"We start now," he said at Nino's Restaurant in Grasmere. "I'm going to hit the ground running. I won't let you down."
With turnout particularly low in both races, Titone got 2,888 votes, or 49 percent, in the heavily Democratic North Shore. Republican-Conservative Rose Margarella got 1,866 votes, or 32 percent. Independence Party candidate Kelvin Alexander pulled 1,122 votes, good for 19 percent.
On the reliably Republican South Shore, it was Tobacco with 2,234 votes, or 70 percent. John Mulia, who was running on the Democratic, Independence and Conservative lines, got 976 votes, or 30 percent.
Tallies were not available last night for write-in candidate Todd Tabacco, who claimed he got between 700 and 800 votes. Write-in votes will not be tabulated until the borough Board of Elections does its standard recounting of the machine vote, which won't come before April 4.
'A POSITIVE SIGN'
"I think the North Shore is a very inclusive community, and people are basing votes on [the candidates'] abilities," borough Democratic Party chairman John Gulino said of Titone's victory. "It's a very positive sign that we're looking at people as people."
Titone, who ran unsuccessfully for state Senate last year, replaces Assemblyman John Lavelle, the Democratic Party chairman who died of a stroke in January.
"This victory is very bittersweet," said Titone, who was also on the Working Families Party line. "I would never be here but for John Lavelle's confidence in me. I make a promise to the Lavelle family: I will do my best to make him proud."
"I'm completely ecstatic for Matt," said Lavelle's son, Daniel, who lost a bid for the Democratic nomination for his late father's seat. "I think he will do a perfect job of carrying on my father's legacy."
Speaking at Nino's, Ms. Margarella, 53, said that while many people told her they were sorry about her loss last night, "I'm not sorry. In my heart of hearts, I thank God for putting me here."
"She's to be commended," said borough GOP chairman John Friscia. "Rose ran a good, honest, reputable campaign."
Alexander, 50, could not be reached for comment last night.
A CONTROVERSY
Tobacco lived in Arizona for six months last year, and with the state constitution mandating that Assembly candidates live in the district for 12 months before election day, Tabacco and others had said Tobacco was ineligible to run.
"Talk about a carpetbagger," Mulia, 53, said at the Staaten. "As soon as a seat came up, he came back."
But Tobacco said voters responded to his message of Albany reform and improving traffic conditions and health care.
"The people of the South Shore care about the issues," said Tobacco, who lost an Assembly election to Eric Vitaliano in 1996. "At the end of the day, that's what they voted."
Tobacco also ran on the Albany Reform Party line.
"The people chose wisely," Rep. Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) said in a telephone interview. "Lou Tobacco will serve with honor and distinction in Albany."
The South Shore seat became available when Vincent Ignizio was elected to the City Council in January.
"I'm going to sit back, and stay involved in the community, stay active with the parties and in the communities," said Mulia.
Tabacco, 26, who handed out rubber stamps with his name on them to voters so they wouldn't misspell his name in the voting booth, said he was "really happy" with his results.
"I think it says something," he said. "People want choices, they want new leadership. They want new faces in politics. Next time we'll be on the ballot and it'll be a different ballgame."
Friscia called Tabacco's campaign "entertaining" and "amusing."
"Maybe it's a cry for attention that he's not receiving in other parts of his life," Friscia said.
Tom Wrobleski may be reached at wrobleski@siadvance.com. Read his polit.bureau blog at http://www.silive.com/newslogs/politics/
For all information related to this story please see:
http://www.silive.com/news/advance/index.ssf?/base/news/1175083204140580.xml&coll=1
