For Republican Dale Sweetland, the night turned into a bad dream.
Sweetland lost in the 25th District Congressional race to Democrat Dan Maffei. But other Republicans also gave credit to the juggernaut campaign of Democratic presidential contender — and unofficial president-elect — Barack Obama. Sweetland’s campaign manager Bill Rapp summed up Sweetland’s loss this way:
“It was a disappointing night for our candidate. We were up against a real powerhouse in the Presidential race. It would be tough for anyone to overcome that.” (Sweetland’s campaign manager Bill Rapp)
Maffei will take over the seat vacated by retiring incumbent Republican Jim Walsh.
With 98.9 percent of the precincts reporting Tuesday night at 10:45 p.m., the unofficial vote count, according to http://onvote.ongov.net , showed Maffei with 52 percent or 102,062 votes; Sweetland with 40 percent or 74,787 votes; and Green Populist candidate Howie Hawkins with 4 percent or 7,869 votes.
Before this unsuccessful Congressional run, Sweetland spent seven terms in the Onondaga County Legislature. He was first elected to that position in 1994. Before that, he served three terms as Town Supervisor of Fabius, his hometown where he was raised on a farm. In 2007, he lost the Republican primary to Joanie Mahoney for Onondaga County executive
At the polls earlier Tuesday, some voters explained why they punched Sweetland on their ballots.
For Michelle Coughlin-Derosier of Syracuse, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were part of her thinking.
“I am a military wife and my husband is in the armed forces. I want to make sure our friends fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan get the funding they need. I felt Dale Sweetland would also be better for the military and their families too.” (Michelle Coughlin-Derosier)
Jim Clark, also of Syracuse, also had personal associations with Sweetland.
“I know Dale and worked with him in the county legislature. He’s been a longtime political person in the county. I’ve liked his policies and he’s very interested in the area. He’s probably a little more conservative than I am but he’s been a good consensus builder in the legislature.” (Jim Clark)
For Democracywise, I’m Landon Sears.
(Landon Sears is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism.)
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