By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Despite many wins Tuesday night, Democrats were reeling from Chris Collin's stunning victory over James Keane. His once confident campaign for county executive ended with not one, but two concession speeches.
The party atmosphere at the Iron Workers Hall in West Seneca quickly subdued as Keane and his wife took the stage. Keane's first concession speech at his campaign headquarters came remarkably early Tuesday night. By 9:15 some analysts were already declaring a landslide for Collins. Keane says it was unstoppable.
Giving his second concession speech at party headquarters downtown, Keane says the campaign is over for him. And he likely won't run for office again. But he says the work is just beginning for Collins.
Other Democrats, from the Legislature to the county clerk, have pledged to work with the new Republican chief executive. That includes comptroller Mark Poloncarz,who declined his party's bid to have him seek the top post. But Poloncarz shares concern about Collins' ability to tackle what's waiting for him.
Despite the pledge of cooperation, the biggest problem for Collins could be trying to find solutions working with a still heavily Democratic Legislature.