Hughes wins city mayoral race
PLATTSBURGH — Democratic candidate Wendell Hughes has been elected as the next mayor of the City of Plattsburgh, Tuesday night's unofficial results show.
Clinton County Board of Elections results had Hughes with 3,892 votes for a comfortable margin of victory over Republican candidate Don Kasprzak who had 3,284 votes.
There are 197 outstanding absentee ballots that have yet to come in, according to the Board of Elections, but that will not be enough to alter the result.
Standing outside of Bobby's Lounge in the city, where Hughes and his supporters were celebrating his victory, Hughes said he hopes he can now bring a positive influence to City Hall.
"And an open door. We need to have that open door. I think that's what's been missing," he said to the media.
"We do some of these grant applications and ... people aren't included, and they have to be included. We have to listen. We have to listen. Walking around — it's imperative — I've hit so many doors this year; people want to be heard and they deserve to be heard."
Hughes, currently the Clinton County Legislator for Area 8, had the endorsements from all six current Common Council members. This likely weighed heavily on the minds of city voters as they casted their ballots in this election.
"I'm really excited to work with the council," Hughes said.
"I have great relationships with all six and I look forward to working with all of them ... each one of them have come out and said something good about me at some point or another and I just look forward to working with all of them. I think we can do some great things in the City of Plattsburgh."
The last four years under current Mayor Chris Rosenquest's administration typically saw division between the mayor and council on several city issues, resulting in gridlock more often than not.
Hughes said his support from the councilors very well could have been why voters resonated with him more.
"I don't know. I mean ... walking around and actually just sitting here talking to you guys is still surreal for me," he said.
"I have no idea why they voted for me. I'm happy they did, and you know, they put some confidence in me, and I will not let them down."
To those who voted for Kasprzak, Hughes said he is "here"
"My door is always open ... I don't care who you voted for," he said.
"I'm going to be the mayor for the next four years. You can come see me. We can have a coffee. We can have a conversation. My 3 C's is what I live by: communication, collaboration, compromise."
Hughes then thanked Kasprzak for running.
"I know how hard it is to run, and it's not easy. There's a lot involved, you know, families get involved. There's so many things," he said.
"My wife, I mean, I've got so many people to thank ... but I know how hard it is to run these campaigns. It's not easy, and, you know, I respect him for doing it."
Kasprzak was surprised and disappointed in the result, but gracious in defeat.
"I'm honestly disappointed. I feel I let a lot of people down," he said at his campaign's gathering spot at Pizza Bono in Downtown Tuesday night.
"The people of Plattsburgh made their choice. I wish Wendell Hughes good luck in the future. I'm very concerned about a lot of things, but obviously I'm not going to be the mayor, so I hope the City of Plattsburgh goes in the right direction in the future."
Democrats strongly outnumber Republicans in terms of registered voters in the city, and many came out to support Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race.
Kasprzak acknowledged that the presidential race could have been a factor in his race.
"I thought I would overcome it only because I felt people should vote locally for their best choice and best individual," he said.
"People can analyze it and say it probably did. I just didn't think it would in Plattsburgh, New York. I wish everybody good luck, and I hope that the people of Plattsburgh will be happy with their decision in the future."
