Newly reelected Cayuga County Legislator Brian Muldrow said Tuesday night that "in four years, this county's going to look a lot different."
Muldrow, a Democrat, will have help making that happen, as his party won at least seven of the Legislature's 11 seats Tuesday. The body will decrease from 15 seats next year as a result of a 2022 vote.
Muldrow and fellow incumbent Heidi Nightengale got the celebrations started Tuesday night at the county Democratic Committee's election night watch party at the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Auburn. Running unopposed, Muldrow was elected to represent District 11 (southwest Auburn) and Nightengale to represent District 8 (northwest Auburn). It is each candidate's second term on the Legislature.
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Also running unopposed, Republicans Tom Winslow and Legislator Mark Strong won Districts 3 (the towns of Brutus and Cato) and 7 (the towns of Moravia, Niles, Sempronius, Summerhill and Venice), respectively. It will be the first term for Winslow, who is currently mayor of the village of Weedsport, and the third for Strong.
Muldrow and Nightengale were soon joined in the Democrat win column by incumbents Aileen McNabb-Coleman, who defeated Republican nominee Joshua Czyz in District 5 (the towns of Owasco and Sennett), and Elane Daly (D, WF), who defeated Republican nominee Ali Muhsen (R, C) in District 9 (northeast Auburn). It will be the third term for both McNabb-Coleman and Daly.
Auburn's fourth Legislature seat was also claimed by a Democrat, political newcomer Stephanie DeVito, who defeated Republican Michael Pettigrass in District 10 (the city's southeast). In a rematch, Democrat and former Legislator Ben Vitale (D) defeated Republican incumbent Lydia Patti Ruffini in District 2 (the towns of Conquest, Mentz, Montezuma and Throop).Â
The seventh and final Democrat of the night to claim victory in the Legislature was first-time candidate Jonathan Anna, who defeated Conservative incumbent Jim Basile and Republican Al Simmons in District 1 (the towns of Ira, Sterling and Victory). With the majority, a Democrat will likely become the next chair of the body, a position that oversees the county's day-to-day operations.
Democrats could claim an eighth seat on the Legislature, as candidate Kevin Fitzgerald's race in District 6 (the towns of Genoa, Ledyard, Locke and Scipio) with Republican incumbent Hans-Peter Pecher was too close to call at 651-675 Tuesday night. In District 4 (the towns of Aurelius, Fleming and Springport), Republican incumbent Robert Shea defeated Democrat James Moore for a second term.
Pecher told ÈËÊÞÐÔ½» late Tuesday at the county Republican committee's watch party at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn that he would prefer to win, but has lost elections in the past.
"The world goes on," he said. "I'm not particularly worried about it."
Gallery: Cayuga County 2023 election night watch parties
Jimmy Giannettino (D, WF) celebrates his election as mayor of Auburn Tuesday night at the Cayuga County Democratic Committee's watch party at the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Auburn. Giannettino defeated former Mayor Tim Lattimore (R, C).
Rhoda Overstreet-Wilson celebrates her election to Auburn City Council by hugging friend Melody Smith Johnson at the county Democratic Committee's watch party at the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Auburn.
Brian Scanlan (D, CCU) celebrates his election to the position of Cayuga County clerk Tuesday night at the county Democratic Committee's watch party at the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Auburn. Scanlan defeated Christopher Petrus (R) and Kristine Lytle (C, EM) to replace Clerk Sue Dwyer, who has served in the position for the last 20 years.
Auburn mayoral candidate Tim Lattimore (R), center, and Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci, left, attend the county Republican Committee's election night watch party Tuesday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn.
David MacDonald raises his arms in victory after winning a seat on the Fleming Town Board at the county Republican Committee's election night watch party Tuesday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn.
Incumbent Cayuga County Legislators Brian Muldrow (D, WF), left, and Heidi Nightengale (D, WF) celebrate reelection Tuesday night at the county Democratic Committee's watch party at the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Auburn. Both ran unopposed. Muldrow was elected to the new District 11 (southwest Auburn) and Nightengale was elected to the new District 8 (northwest Auburn).
Incumbent Cayuga County Legislator Aileen McNabb-Coleman (D, WF) celebrates reelection Tuesday night at the county Democratic Committee's watch party at the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Auburn. McNabb-Coleman defeated Joshua Czyz (R, C) to represent the new District 5, which consists of the towns of Owasco and Sennett.
Ben Vitale (D, CCU) celebrates his election to the Cayuga County Legislature Tuesday night at the county Democratic Committee's watch party at the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Auburn. Vitale defeated incumbent Lydia Patti Ruffini (R) to represent the new District 2, which consists of the towns of Conquest, Mentz, Montezuma and Throop.
Stephanie DeVito (D, WF) celebrates her election to the Cayuga County Legislature Tuesday night at the county Democratic Committee's watch party at the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Auburn. DeVito defeated Michael Pettigrass (R, C) to represent the new District 10, which consists of southeast Auburn.
Cayuga County clerk candidate Kristine Lytle (C) awaits election results Tuesday night at A.T. Walley & Co. in Auburn.
Cayuga County Legislature candidate Joshua Czyz (R, C), center, attends the county Republican Committee's election night watch party Tuesday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn.
Cayuga County Coroner Dr. Adam Duckett, left, and county clerk candidate Chris Petrus (R) attend the county Republican Committee's election night watch party Tuesday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn.
Brian Dahl (R) looks at the numbers during the Auburn City Council race at the county Republican Committee's election night watch party Tuesday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn. Dahl lost his bid against Rhoda Overstreet Wilson (D) and Christina Calarco (D).
Auburn mayoral candidate Tim Lattimore (R) looks at the results at the county Republican Committee's election night watch party Tuesday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn. Lattimore lost to Jimmy Giannettino (D).
Cayuga County clerk candidate Brian Scanlan (D) looks for election results over the shoulder of county Democratic Committee member Ian Phillips at their 2023 election night watch party Tuesday night at Ancient Order of Hibernians in Auburn.
Attendees of the Cayuga County Democratic Committee's 2023 election night watch party await results Tuesday night at Ancient Order of Hibernians in Auburn.
Attendees of the Cayuga County Democratic Committee's 2023 election night watch party await results Tuesday night at Ancient Order of Hibernians in Auburn.
Volunteer Sam Giannettino works the phones Tuesday at the Cayuga County Democratic Committee's headquarters in Auburn.
Ballots are cast in 2023 elections at Sacred Heart Church in Owasco on Tuesday.
Ballots are cast in 2023 elections at Sacred Heart Church in Owasco on Tuesday.
Executive Editor David Wilcox can be reached at (315) 282-2245 or david.wilcox@lee.net. Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau contributed to this story.
David Wilcox
Executive editor
