Woerner secures third term in State Assembly
Woerner hopes to tackle rural health care, farms, renewable energy
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Rural health care, renewable energy, and support for upstate New York’s farmers are key issues Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, DRound Lake, hopes to tackle after being elected Tuesday to a third term in office.
Woerner defeated Republican challenger Morgan Zegers with 55 percent of the vote, 28,199 to 21,737, in the 113th District that includes eastern Saratoga County from Mechanicville to Moreau.
“I’m looking forward to ensuring that those who live in rural communities have access to affordable health care,” she said.
Woerner also said she plans to devote considerable time during her next term trying to promote renewable energy sources such as anaerobic digesters, which generate electricity from methane gas produced by cow manure. She also called for increased support of New York’s farms to ensure good sources of local food.
“And with a new Senate, hopefully, we can get education funding issues fixed so rural schools aren’t disadvantaged,” Woerner said.
Democrats won control of the state Senate for the first time in a decade, giving them a majority in both houses of the Legislature.
Democrats also swept statewide races led by Governor Andrew Cuomo who was re-elected to a third term in office. Other winners were Letitia James for attorney general; Thomas DiNapoli, state comptroller; and New York’s junior U.S. senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, was re-elected.
In two uncontested Assembly races, Republicans Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, and Mary Beth Walsh, RBallston, were returned to office.
In the Senate, incumbent Republican James Tedisco, R-Glenville, coasted to victory over Democratic challenger Michelle Ostrelich in the 49th District.
In the 43rd Senate District, Republican Daphne Jordan defeated Democrat Aaron Gladd. Jordan, a Halfmoon town councilwoman, will take over the seat currently held by state Sen. Kathleen Marchione, R-Halfmoon, who decided not to seek re-election.
In addition to her Town Board position, Jordan is currently on Marchione’s Senate staff.
There were two uncontested races for Saratoga County government. District Attorney Karen Heggen and Treasurer Andrew Jarosh were re-elected.
Several town races were also on the ballot.
In Charlton, Penny Heritage and David Robbins were the top vote- getters in a three-way contest for two town board seats, over Erin Miller.
In Greenfield, Republican Michael P. Ginley defeated Democrat Elizabeth Fairbanks-Fletcher, 1,709 to 1,315, for town justice.
In Moreau, residents approved funding for Crandall Public Library’s budget, 2,597 to 1,688.