Politics Now

Get live election results

Get real-time results from Erie and Niagara counties here at The News' Election Live page.

The polls have closed, but News Staff Reporter Patrick Lakamp continues to host a live chat, discussing the night's major races with The News' team of reporters and taking your questions. It's also happening at the Election Live page.

And keep that Election Live page open throughout the night. That's where you'll find the latest results and the most in-depth coverage of Election Night. Including images capturing Election Day across Western New York from The News' team of staff photographers. Plus,the very latest breaking stories recapping results and getting candidate reactions in the night's biggest races.

Election Night coverage under way

The News' Election Night coverage is now under way here at the Election Live page.

News Staff Reporter Patrick Lakamp is hosting a live chat, where he'll be discussing the night's major races with The News' team of reporters, and he'll be taking your questions.

And keep that Election Live page open throughout the night. That's where you'll find the latest results and the most in-depth coverage of Election Night, including:

•Live results from Erie and Niagara counties once the polls close at 9 p.m.

•Images capturing Election Day across Western New York from The News' team of staff photographers.

•Breaking stories recapping results and getting candidate reaction in the night's biggest races.

Live election coverage tonight

Follow Election Night tonight with the latest results and the most in-depth coverage with Election Live at www.buffalonews.com.

•Beginning at 6:30 p.m., join a live chat hosted by News Staff Reporter Patrick Lakamp, featuring updates and insight from The News' team of reporters covering every major race locally.

•Once the polls close at 9 p.m., get up-to-the-minute results for Erie and Niagara counties.

•View images capturing Election Day across Western New York from The News' team of staff photographers.

•Get breaking stories recapping results in the night's biggest races.

A link to our Election Live coverage will appear at www.buffalonews.com beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Rudy may influence race for state GOP chief

   Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was scheduled to meet with State Republican Chairman Joe Mondello today, and by all accounts, the parley could have major consequences for the future of the embattled party.

   With Mondello's support for his three-year chairmanship still strong in his Nassau County home turf, it is nevertheless withering around the rest of New York. Ed Cox, the Manhattan attorney and son-in-law of the late President Richard Nixon, has been noting steady progress this week in his bid to take over for Mondello.

   In fact, the leaders of the Broome, Tioga, Tompkins and Ontario county Republican organizations hopped on the Cox bandwagon today. 

   But Mondello has so for not budged, and much speculation looms around the possibility that the mayor  -- seen as a possible gubernatorial candidate in 2010 -- will suggest that it might be time for a new party leader.

   Looming in the wilds of upstate, however, is Niagara County Republican Chairman Henry Wojtaszek. For months, he has quietly traveled the state to build what many onlookers see as solid support. Cox has gained the backing of about half the state's county chairman this week, but most are small counties.

   It appears that the Wojtaszek strategy remains to work under the radar and show deference to Mondello, but Cox continues to gain momentum. Meanwhile, Wojtaszek was nowhere to be seen today, and did not return calls to The Buffalo News. On the day that most observers believed Wojtaszek would officially launch his candidacy, his disappearing act only raised questions about the future of his candidacy.

   "I don't think it's over, even though the Cox people are rolling this thing out to make it look like a tidal wave," said one party observer. "But it's really only drips. And Henry wants to make a splash rather than these drips."

   The best way most see Wojtaszek making such an immediate splash, is if Mondello withdraws and throws his considerable downstate strength to his Niagara County counterpart.

   Cox, meanwhile, has made notable progress. Two supporters include Jack Casey, chairman of the Rensselaer County GOP and a Senate employee, and Debbie Preston, chairwoman of the Broome County Republican Committee, who has close ties to Sen. Tom Libous of Binghamton.  Such connections to the Senate and its still influential Republican members is viewed as significant.

   "That tells me the Senate may be inclined toward Henry," said another informed observer. "If Cox continues to grow, it could be uphill for Henry."

   So, today's meeting could hold significance for the future of the party. While Giuliani is probably not inclined to move toward Cox -- who headed Sen. John McCain's presidential effort in New York -- his opinion is thought to carry weight.

    For those who care about such things, the August doldrums are still offering some interesting politics watching.

--Robert J. McCarthy

Working Families pulls Wroblewski nod

      The Western New York Chapter of the Working Families Party originally planned to support Democratic incumbent Timothy M. Wroblewski for the County Legislature's 9th District this year.

   But Wroblewski's vote to uphold County Executive Chris Collins' veto of a measure to establish a countywide planning board has apparently scuttled any chance of his securing the line. The party changed its original plans and now will support nobody in the race.

   Working Families Vice Chairman Dave Chudy said Wroblewski acknowledged "trouble" with the bill during his party interview because of significant opposition in some towns.

   "But he said that if [bill sponsor] Maria Whyte needed him, he would be there," Chudy said.

   The override attempt in the Legislature failed by one vote.

   Chudy called the situation a matter of "personal integrity.

   "He wasn't honest with us," he said, noting that Democrat Robert B. Reynolds of Hamburg also voted against the override but told party members he would.

   Wroblewski called the situation a "misunderstanding," adding he thought he was clear with party members that overriding the county executive's veto would not prove popular with many constituents.

   "I told them all along this was not a dead issue," he said. "I just would not support this version of the law because it has no teeth. I just don't remember the conversation the way they do," he added.

   Western New York Working Families Chairman Sam Williams said Chudy was not authorized to speak for the party, but acknowledged it had decided not to support Wroblewski this year.

  -- Robert J. McCarthy

Two police unions back Howard for sheriff

   Republican Timothy B. Howard, seeking his second term as Erie County sheriff, picked up two key law enforcement endorsements on Thursday.

   Howard was backed by the Erie County Sheriff's Police Benevolent Association (road patrol) and the state troopers' Police Benevolent Association.

    Police endorsements are considered among the most important of special-interest backing in most campaigns, but especially for a law enforcement post such as sheriff.

   -- Robert J. McCarthy

Makowski judicial post to remain vacant for now

   The strange saga of the State Supreme Court seat once held by former Justice Joseph G. Makowski continues.

   Erie County Democratic Chairman Leonard R. Lenihan said this week that Gov. David A. Paterson's office has informed him there will be no interim appointment to replace Makowski on the local Supreme Court bench. As a result, the seat will be filled in the November general election, after all parties have submitted candidates at judicial nominating conventions.

   Makowski resigned in March under pressure from District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III for submitting a false affidavit while trying to help a friend escape a drunken-driving charge. Then, after months of inaction, Paterson named City Judge Robert T. Russell Jr. to the post in June, only to have Russell turn down the appointment.

   Russell cited a lack of support from Lenihan for the post.

   But Paterson's office never acknowledged Russell's withdrawal after officially announcing the appointment.

    Now Lenihan says the governor has opted to simply let the process play out, with nominations to be decided at a judicial nominating convention in September.

    -- Robert J. McCarthy

Mayor ducks questions on Albany coup

   Mayor Byron W. Brown has some extremely close associations with people involved in the potential Republican takeover of the State Senate.

   First, Brown was a Democratic member of the upper house in Albany before he was elected mayor in 2005.

   Second, coup instigator B. Thomas Golisano -- owner of the Buffalo Sabres -- is a Brown supporter. He told The Buffalo News in an interview earlier this year that he planned to stay close to the mayor during this election year.  He did not say exactly what being close meant, but there is no question the billionaire founder of Paychex Inc. has shown a willingness to spend money in elections. His Responsible New York committee, for example, spent more than $4 million on the Democratic Senate candidates with whom he has now parted company.

   And third, Golisano lieutenant G. Steven Pigeon has rekindled close ties with the mayor that were severed for a time as Brown prepared his run for City Hall in 2004. Pigeon also had a key role in last year's primary challenge by Brown ally Barbra A. Kavanaugh to Assemblyman Sam Hoyt. Golisano financed the Kavanaugh effort.

   But on Wednesday, Brown said through spokesman Peter K. Cutler that he would have no comment on the events in Albany. He would not answer questions about whether he would maintain ties with Pigeon and Golisano, who were the main forces in leading the charge against Brown's old Democratic allies.

   Do you view those as legitimate questions for the mayor of Buffalo as events continue to unfold in Albany?

-- Robert J. McCarthy

Garner joins Albany lobbying firm

   Maurice L. Garner, one of Buffalo's best known political operatives and a close associate of Mayor Byron W. Brown, has joined Bolton-St. Johns Inc., one of Albany's top lobbying firms.

   Bolton-St. John's spokesman Edward Draves said Friday that Garner will assist the firm with existing clients and new business development.

   "We want to expand our reach out to Western New York, where we think a lot of things will be happening," Draves said. "And people in Western New York don't realize what a statewide player Maurice is."

   Garner, 50, is a longtime confidante of the mayor and a co-founder of the Grassroots political club on Buffalo's East Side. His last government position was as Buffalo's deputy comptroller, and he has since opened his own consulting firm.

   Now he joins an Albany company with vast experience in government relations and consulting, and the firm's officials expect he will play a major role, Draves said.

  -- Robert J. McCarthy

Lee cuts new path by working with Democrats

 WASHINGTON — It wasn't often that you saw Bill Paxon or Tom Reynolds standing next to a Democratic congressman at a press conference — but their successor has done just that twice in the last two months.

   In other words, Rep. Chris Lee, the Clarence businessman turned Republican congressman, isn't exactly following the footsteps of his predecessors.

   Instead, he's forging his own path, teaming with Democratic Reps. Brian Higgins and Louise Slaughter on local initiatives and bucking the GOP on its budget plans and an important children's health care bill.

   It's hardly what we could have expected from a congressman who succeeds three consecutive right-wing superstars (including the late Jack Kemp, who tended to have better relations with his Democratic colleagues than Paxon or Reynolds).

   But then again, it was sort of hard to know what to expect from Lee, given that he had never before held public office.

   Now, though, it is becoming clear that Lee is his own man — which, of course, doesn't sit well with everybody. Some Republicans deride him as the country-club sort who's too quick to compromise and too reluctant to follow the party line.

   So, what do you think? How is Lee doing after four months in office?

   — Jerry Zremski