PHIL AND SUE WIN!

Standing in the packed VFW last night, shoulder to shoulder, we watched the results being calculated and projected onto the wall.  The writing was on the wall both literally and figuratively. As results from each of the 12 districts came in, anticipation grew. It was very exciting, like watching the Super Bowl...except everyone in the room was rooting for the same team. When the last district was entered into the spreadsheet, the place erupted...Phil and Sue were victorious. Phil captured the most votes by far, then Sue. Taylor followed and Cristo was dead last. Party time...and what a party it was!

Sue gave a wonderful, genuine, thankful speech to her supporters with a message of hope and continued reference to her love of EG. Phil came out all business...having been elected just moments before, he talked fervently about all the work he was prepared to do. Both speeches were great and cemented my confidence that I had backed the right team. Why? For one, I'm not a democrat. Yesterday I voted across the board for Republicans with just three exceptions: I voted for Sue and Phil for EG Town Board, and I voted for the "The Rent is Too Damn High" guy. Really. We all know Cuomo was going to smoke Crazy Carl, so I thought I would use my vote for something more fun than backing a dead horse.

An analytical person, I like to dissect things and figure out "why". Why did Phil and Sue win? I honestly think the answer is that the tone, delivery, and attitudes of Cristo and Taylor make them just plain unlikeable. It's that simple. Look at what they had going for them. All these issues gave Cristo and Taylor the advantage and/or material to work with:

- $2.6 M in debt
- High taxes and another increase
- Junk bond status
- Stipends
- Conflicts of interest
- Scrapgate
- A dem candidate entering the race with only two months to go

With all this potentially on their side, the Republicans campaigned for a year, peppered The Advertiser ad nauseum, and went haywire on their blog pointing fingers at everyone Rick McCabe has ever met. In the end, though, their message seemed to be driven by a combination of arrogance and hate. It was "holier than thou" and very preachy. It's hard to run on the HATE platform and no one wants to be talked down to.

The results make me wonder what will become of Cristo and Taylor from a political standpoint. Will they be the only ones who don't see the writing on the wall and try to run yet again? Mike had the lowest votes, and Ann has lost both times she ran, so she's 0-2. In simple terms, the people of EG do not want them in office. The question is whether they will ever accept that. Personally, I think the EG Republican committee will make that decision for them and find two different horses for the next race.

But enough about that...the election is over. Congratulations Sue and Phil! I am confident you will both fight for a better EG. Please cast your board votes for what's good for EG in the long term. Please use your hearts and brains to make decisions, not just your loyalty to your party line. Do your best and make us proud.

Congrats.