Editor‘s note: This article originally ran on Democracywise, an SU-based website with articles from political reporting students.

In a close race, Republican challenger Ann Marie Buerkle trailed against Rep. Dan Maffei (D-DeWitt) for the 25th Congressional District seat.

As of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night, the unofficial results showed Buerkle with 62,419 votes or 47 percent. Maffei had 72,323 or 54 percent of the vote, according to the Onondaga County Board of Elections.

The 25th Congressional District includes all of Onondaga and Wayne counties, the northern part of Cayuga County, and the towns of Webster, Penfield and Irondequoit in Monroe County.

Control of the House of Representatives was at stake in Tuesday’s election. Before the election, Democrats had 258 seats to 177 for Republicans. All 435 seats were up for re-election.

In 2008, Maffei became the first Democrat to occupy the seat in 28 years.

Buerkle, 59, is a former nurse and an assistant state attorney who served on the Syracuse Common Council.

At the polls on Tuesday, some voters gave hints of the discontent with incumbents that made the race so close.

At the LaFayette Commons Office Building polling place, Doug Shurtleff said he is a conservative and voted for Buerkle.

‘I think she is going to be a conservative in regards to spending and the size of our government. I think she fits the mentality that fits the values of government that I have,’ Shurtleff said. ‘I just thought she was the best.’

At the Doubletree Hotel, Buerkle had her own small room reserved for supporters gathered waiting to hear the results. Some guests sat in the two round tables that occupied the room — one decorated with flowers, the other with three white, blue and red balloons. Others remained standing.

As the votes showed her trailing, she did not make a public statement.

bfgraula@syr.edu

Published on November 2, 2010 at 12:00 pm