In Tuesday's issue of the Watertown Daily Times (www.watertowndailytimes.com), they published an article regarding how Gov. Spitzer's controversial plan to allow illegals to obtain driver's licenses could have had an effect on these elections, as the people in the rural areas of the county, those farmers that typically vote Republican, are in opposition to the plan. (I personally am mixed on the issue...but that is unimportant) They feel that voting in Democrats who would just support Spitzer's plan would be harmful to the entire state.  Do these people realize that it is the Republicans who continue to ensure that they are poor?  Do they realize that it is the Republicans who want to suck away all of their money to spend on this useless war? Apparently not.

The second reason why these Republicans won is likely due to poor voter turnout.  According to 7 News (wwnytv.net), there were not a lot of people coming to the polls.  Part of this could be the fact that many of the town races in the county were uncontested, thus not inspiring the people to come to the polls.  In St. Lawrence County, according to the Board of Elections, 21,475 people (not counting absentee ballots) came to the polls out of the 62,561 registered voters in the county.  This amounts to just 34% of registered voters!  Calling St. Lawrence County Democrats: VOTE!

On to a few other races.  In the lovely Village of Waddington, the people elected Republican Janet Otto-Cassanda, who defeated William Boak for mayor, Democrat Darin Green and Republican Warren Kocher won two trustee spots, and in the Town of Waddington, Republicans Steven McKnight and Mark Scott won two councilor seats. The same was true in Gouverneur, as they easily reelected their Republican mayor.  (Note to Gouverneur residents- when you're paying for stuff that never gets done, you'll know why)

It was better news in Potsdam, however, as incumbent Independent-Democratic mayor Ron Tischler was reelected for a second term, defeating businessman Tim Connolly and independent candidate Susan Rice.  Democrats George Regan and Steve Yurgartis won two trustee spots, Democrat Marie Regan remains Town Supervisor, and Rollin Beattie won a councilor seat, along with Republican Harold Demick, both running unopposed for two councilor seats.

The Village of Canton elected a Democratic mayor (Charlotte Ramsay) and a Democratic trustee, and the mayoral election in the City of Ogdensburg is too close to call right now, with the Republican William Nelson being ahead of Democrat Samuel LaMacchia by a mere 19 votes, but did elect a Democratic councilor (with two Republicans). Out in the rural areas, many races were uncontested, with a split in Democrats and Republicans.