Howard Beach’s Democratic City Councilman earned a new title Tuesday night – State Senator-elect Joe Addabbo. Photo caption: It was all smiles at Addabbo headquarters in Howard Beach as the City councilman announced victory in the 15th State Senate District election.
Addabbo claimed victory over two-decade incumbent State Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale) in the 15th State Senate District election by a margin of 57.49 percent to 42.51 percent.
“We knew we would all be in an uphill battle – but you know what – tonight we won,” Addabbo told a crowd of supporters in Howard Beach. “The bottom line is this – you believed in something like I believed in something. You believed that these people here outside of these walls deserved better. You believed that when we spoke about issues it was the right thing to do and not go negative. You believed that going out there hour after hour and making phone calls and knocking on doors – you believed that was the right thing to do as I believe that was the right thing to do.”
The announcement capped an evening of historic victories for New York State Democrats – coming only moments after national news outlets began projecting U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Illinois) the winner of the presidential election.
“It looks like it was an overwhelming vote in our district for Obama and the circumstances are as such that despite your best effort and my best efforts it was not something we could achieve and accomplish,” Maltese told supporters at his Myrtle Avenue headquarters. “I believe in my 40 years in politics that it was certainly one of the best if not the best campaigns we’ve ever run.”
Addabbo’s victory brought the number of Democratic senators in the 2009 State Senate to 51 and paved the way for complete democratic control of Albany next year – the first time since 1935.
The race had remained a dead-heat until Tuesday night, according to local polls. A Siena College poll on Sunday placed Addabbo ahead by two points, well within the poll’s margin of error. An earlier Siena poll put the candidates at 42 percent each.
Maltese was targeted by Democrats this year after a long standing truce between the parties. The veteran senator was identified as vulnerable after he was nearly unseated in 2006 by an unendorsed-insurgent campaign by Democratic challenger Albert Baldeo. Unfortunately for Maltese – his perceived vulnerability, the prospect state senate control and the strength of their presidential candidate created a perfect storm that Democratic leaders just couldn’t pass up.
“He has forever changed this community for the best,” Addabbo supporter Stavroula Kokkoros said. “Howard Beach now has pride and joy forever to know that one if its own has gone to Albany. I am very proud to call him my state senator.”
