Bey thanks supporters for his victory at Pensabene’s.
Democratic incumbent Khalid Bey has won his re-election for Common Council District 4.
“It’s great to know voters appreciate what I’ve already done,” Bey said. “I already have plans for next year.”
As of 11:44 p.m., in the unofficial vote count, Bey had 60 percent – or 1,471 votes – to 40 percent – or 995 votes – for Hawkins. That was with 100 percent of the vote counted in the unofficial tally from the Onondaga County Board of Elections.
The race was a rematch from 2011, with Bey facing Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins. In 2011, Bey won by 97 votes.
District 4 of Syracuse includes the neighborhoods of University Hill, Brighton and Southwest. Of the district’s 13,676 registered voters, 8,778 – or 64 percent – are Democrats and the Green Party has 117 voters, or less than 1 percent.
The Democratic party’s election-night gathering took place at Pensabene’s Casa Grande, a restaurant off State Fair Boulevard, in Syracuse. A square room of round white tables and clusters of red, white and blue balloons set the stage for a host of candidates, friends and families to gather in anticipation. And they did.
U.S. Rep. Dan Mafei, D-Syracuse, described the familiar mood of an election night. “Everyone’s on pins and needles,” he said.
For fundraising, as of Nov. 3 Bey had raised $11,421 in contributions and spent $10,412 for his campaign, according to a report provided to Democracywise from his campaign treasurer. In comparison, perennial candidate Hawkins raised $10,428 in contributions as of Nov. 3, according to the New York State Board of Election reports.
At the polls in Kirk Park on Tuesday, some voters went out of their way to show their support for Bey.
Trisha McBride, assistant supervisor for Section 8 Department at the Syracuse Housing Authority, said Bey’s the best person for the job because he’s from the community and knows how it works. “He’s been involved in the community,” she said.
For the race, Common Councilor Nader Maroun of District 5 said Bey was bound to win because everyone knows him. “He’s the incumbent,” said Maroun, “and he’s gotten a lot of visibility.”
(Elizabeth Beeson is a graduate student in broadcast and digital journalism.)
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