On Nov. 20, Gordon Cuffy lost his bid for election with 92,648 votes, according to unofficial results from the Onondaga County Board of Elections. Cuffy conceded to Republican Tom Miller on Nov. 21, according to The Post-Standard.
In a race that was too close call, Democrat Gordon Cuffy was behind in the race for Onondaga County court judge.
“I’m feeling disappointed that I just couldn’t win the race,” said Cuffy, the Onondaga County attorney.
Gordon Cuffy and his family wait for election night results.
Alexandra Montgomery
As of 11:40 with 100 percent of the votes counted, the unofficial results of the Onondaga County Board of Elections gave Cuffy 85,497 votes – or 49 percent – compared to 88,656 votes – or 51 percent – for his opponent, Republican Tom Miller, the Fayetteville village justice. This is a 1.8 percent difference.
Cuffy and Miller are vying for the judgeship left by William Walsh, who retired last December. There are three Onondaga County court judges and they have jurisdiction within the 5th Judicial District.
At Summit Software Company on Jamesville Road on election night, Cuffy supporters mingled, ate food, and watched the local race results on YNN and the presidential results on MSNBC. As of 9 p.m., Cuffy said he was not nervous about his race. “I’m more nervous about the presidential race,” said Cuffy. “I think my race is going to go fine.”
As of Oct. 23, campaign finance reports filed on the New York State Board of Elections show Miller spent almost $42,000 on television advertisements. Jack Mannion, Mayor Stephanie Miner’s husband, said Cuffy did not take that approach. “Our main strategy has been robo-calls,” said Mannion. Mayor Miner and Joanie Mahoney, the Onondaga County executive, teamed up in support of Cuffy, using their voices in these robo-calls. Mahoney, a Republican, said she crossed party lines to support Cuffy for personal reasons.
“He’s somebody I’ve known for 20 years,” said Mahoney. “He’s one of my closest confidants.” She also said Cuffy is the one who is truly qualified for the judge position.
At the polls Tuesday, some voters said they did not know much about the candidates for Onondaga County court judge.
At the Eastwood Community Center, registered Democrat Bob Martin, 56, said he voted for Cuffy because of his party. “He is the Democratic candidate and I like Democratic principles,” said Martin.
The situation was similar at the Transfiguration Church, where registered Democrat Danielle Papainni, 24, said she voted for Cuffy. “I stayed with the Democratic Party,” said Papainni. “As far as judges go, I don’t pay much attention.”
As Cuffy supporters waited for results Tuesday, Republican Bill Fisher, the Onondaga County executive deputy, sat updating the Onondaga Board of Elections website. Fisher said he was anxious. “I think it’s a close race,” said Fisher. After the unofficial results were tallied, Fisher said the Onondaga County Board of Elections told him there were over 11,600 absentee ballots that still need to be counted.
Cuffy’s wife, Nadine Cuffy, says she’s not giving up. “The fat lady hasn’t gotten up yet,” said Nadine Cuffy. But she says whether Cuffy wins or loses, he is on the path he should be on. “We’re open to the opportunities that come as a result of this exposure,” said Nadine Cuffy.
For his part, Cuffy said he will “hang in there,” while the absentee ballots are counted. “The wait has to happen,” said Cuffy.
(Alexandra Montgomery is a senior with dual majors in broadcast journalism and political science.)
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