Republican Castelli Wins Special Election, Captures Assembly Seat

The second time was the charm Tuesday night for Robert Castelli, a criminal justice professor and Lewisboro resident who has won the 89th District Assembly seat in a special election.

Castelli, the 60-year-old Republican, first tried unsuccessfully for the seat in 2004.

"People are sick and tired of the tax-and spend-policies and the lack of a voice in Albany, New York," Castelli told a crowd of his supporters in Armonk. "We have decided we're not taking it anymore."

At 11 p.m., the county's unofficial tally had Castelli winning  55 % of the vote to Harckham's 45 % with 98 % of precincts reporting.

The Vietnam War veteran and retired state police station commander thanked his opponent, Katonah's Peter Harckham.

"At the end of the day, Republicans and Democrats are first neighbors, second Westchesterites and third, and most importantly of all, Americans," he said.

He also touted his commitment to public service.

"I have spent, as you know, my life in the service of my country and my community," Castelli said. "This is just another arena to serve and I am honored to be able to serve on the behalf of all of you that put me there."

Harckham, a Democrat and county legislator, spoke at the Katonah Grill, thanking his family and his campaign staff and congratulating Castelli. He said he looked forward to working with Castelli.

"This has been such a remarkable process," Harckham, 50, said. 

Both men positioned themselves as establishment outsiders, a solid strategy as confidence in the current direction of state government remains low—a recent release by the Marist Poll says 67% of the electorate thinks the way things are done in Albany need major changes.

Castelli, a former Lewisboro councilman, also vowed to do his part to "block the super majority that has stopped us from having a voice in Albany."

The men were vying to fill a vacancy left by Adam Bradley, the Democrat who stepped down last month to become mayor of White Plains after representing the district since 2003.  

Castelli ran on a campaign platform that included promising reform in Albany, repeal of the Wicks Law for public building contracts and opposition to the county's affordable housing settlement with the federal government. 

Harckham, who is also president and founder of an advertising and communications firm, ran on a campaign promising transparency in Albany, independence from his party leadership and fighting what have been called commonly "unfunded mandates," such as Medicaid contributions from the county governments. He also stressed the need to downsize redundant government administrative positions.

District 89 encompasses Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, New Castle, North Castle, Pound Ridge, Harrison and sections of White Plains.  

The election cycle was brief — the election was just called by Governor David Paterson on Jan. 5.

And, as with any small, special election, poll workers weren't expecting crowds.

Yet at the Harrison Town Library today, the mood took on a cheerful town gathering as voters, mostly senior citizens, began to trickle in around 6 p.m.

Most of the people working at the polls were long-time residents of the Harrison community.

Donna Caruso, a poll inspector and Harrison resident, was surprised at the healthy turnout.

"We have 900 possible voters and we have over 100 now that have come," she said.  "I expected four."

Candidates and voters didn't have much time to get to know each other.

Bohdan Hlushewsky, a retired Rye High School music teacher, decided at the last minute.

"I didn't even know who was running," early on, he said, but realized that having a voice in state politics required showing up no matter what.

"I knew I was going to vote. If I don't vote I can't complain," Hlushewsky said. "Now we'll see what's what. Whoever wins all the power to him."