Republican incumbent Jim DiBlasi has lost to Democrat Tom Buckel for the 7th District seat in the Onondaga County Legislature. DiBlasi has represented District 7 since 1999.
“I wasn’t expecting this. I thought this year with the way races were gearing up at the top of the ticket I thought it would be more favorable.” [DiBlasi]
With 100 percent of the polls reporting, DiBlasi lost by 691 votes The unofficial results have Buckel with 56.6 percent of the vote compared to DiBlasi’s 43.3 percent. The final numbers are 2,929 votes for Buckel and 2,238 votes for DiBlasi.
Earlier in the evening, DiBlasi remained hopeful:
“We have a good story and people know me. There is no reason not to vote for me if you’ve voted for me in the past.” [DiBlasi]
At the polling stations on Tuesday, voters offered different views of the two candidates.
Bobbi Gillis is a Syracuse Univeristy employee who voted for Tom Buckel.
“I liked Tom, I liked him for his honesty about the issues. On the issue of violence it seems like he might be doing something about it.” [Gillis]
Fran Dagata, 34, who voted at the Salem Hyde Middle School. He voted for DiBlasi because he helped reduce taxes.
“I think he is trying to hold the line on taxes, he is looking out for the working families.”
