PLATTSBURGH — Wendell Hughes has defeated Daniel Lennon in Tuesday’s City of Plattsburgh Democratic Party mayoral primary.
Although results Tuesday night were unofficial, Hughes, a Clinton County legislator, had a 553 to 394 advantage over Lennon, a local attorney, with all voting districts reporting.
‘BITTERSWEET’ VICTORY
Hughes and his supporters celebrated the victory at Bobby’s Lounge Tuesday night. When the results rolled in, the room erupted in claps.
“I don’t know what to say. It is bittersweet because (current Ward 6 Councilor) Jeff Moore lost by a little bit, (but) I’m very happy that I won,” Hughes said before “We Are The Champions” by Queen started playing from the jukebox.
“The experience has been amazing, and going forward, I’ve said a lot of things and now, I need to back them up.”
The win in the primary sets up a tilt for Hughes in November against Republican Don Kasprzak, a former city mayor and councilor.
Hughes, 56, thanked those who came out to vote for him in Tuesday’s primary.
“I’m thankful for everybody who voted for me, and I will not disappoint them,” he said.
“I went and knocked on 1,200 doors. I did a lot of this stuff myself. I had a lot of friends, don’t get me wrong, a lot of people were helping, and I’ve got a ton of people to thank … they know who they are.”
‘I AM WHO I AM’
Hughes also praised his opponent, saying Lennon “worked hard” and was out there talking to a lot of people. Hughes said he hopes he can win over the residents who voted for Lennon.
“I am who I am. I think we have a good shot in November. I think winning November isn’t out of the question, that’s for sure, but … I am going to really enjoy this tonight.”
However, before the general election in November, Hughes said he is going to take his wife some place nice for a week.
“Because she deserves it, seriously. We’ve worked really hard,” he said.
“A lot of people don’t understand how much the spouses do for you and Pam is my rock and I need to take care of my wife for a week. We’ll regroup and come back and get back out there.”
Reflecting on his first primary election, Hughes said they need to “regroup” after the past several months.
“When you think about it, starting petitions in February and we’re in June and we’re still … five months out from the election,” he said.
“It’s just incredible the amount of time (it takes). My legislative duties, I have a lot; I’ve got a lot of volunteer organizations that I do; we have the parade in Rouses Point Sunday night with the Honor Flight float; and I got a deck I have to finish at home. If I don’t get the deck finished. I may not be here in November,” he joked.
LENNON REFLECTS
Lennon, 29, said he was proud of the campaign he ran, his first in the city.
“I’m very proud of the campaign that we’ve run,” he said at The Pepper following the election.
“I hope that the results reflect the amount of work that we put in and it hasn’t just been me. I’m very proud of the supporters that I’ve had, the team that I’ve had, my friends, my family, those that we’ve adopted along the way in this campaign and jumped in and helped this campaign forward.”
Lennon said he learned a lot in the campaign.
“There’s mistakes all along the way, of course, and it’s just a learning process. In terms of what I would do different, I think I would, if I had more people going door to door, I think that would be helpful,” he said.
“But I wanted to be there at the voter’s doorsteps talking to them in their living rooms, in front of their houses and making sure that I was hearing their concerns while I was there.”
Lennon has been the subject of a State Police investigation for the past month, but no details of that case have been released. He was suspended from his job as an assistant district attorney by Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie pending the results of the investigation.
Lennon said he still cannot comment on the investigation.
He said some voters did ask him about it while he was campaigning.
“I know that at some points that there were certain individuals that did express some concern over that, and that’s their right, I can understand that,” he said.
“I tried to be as open as I could be with that investigation, but the fact of the matter is, it’s just part of life that I had to confront and I’m proud of the way that I did.”
Lennon is on the Working Families Party line for the November election, but he said he did not intend to run on a third-party ticket if he lost the Democratic primary. But he said Tuesday night that he has not yet fully decided.
“I guess I have to re-evaluate that,” he said.