Former state Assemblyman Paul Tonko continued the 50-year tradition of Democrats controlling the 21st Congressional District seat, winning Tuesday’s election with ease to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty of Green Island.

Republican challenger and energy company president Jim Buhrmaster couldn’t overcome the 29 percent Democratic enrollment advantage over the GOP in the district that comprises all of Albany, Schoharie, Schenectady and Montgomery counties and parts of Fulton, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties.

“Obviously, my first thought,” said Tonko, “is to get the best assignments to committees based on my resume so we can address those issues important to the 21st District.”

He listed such issues as universal health care, withdrawing troops from Iraq and energy reform.

“Undeniably, overlaying all of that is repairing the fragile economy that is essential if we are going to go forward with any of these opportunities,” Tonko said.

With 67 percent of the vote in, Tonko, 59, of Amsterdam, with the Democratic and Working Families lines, was leading Buhrmaster 105,313 to 57,086. Buhrmaster, who is a Schenectady County legislator, had the GOP and Conservative lines.

Philip Steck of Loudonville, an Albany County legislator, who after losing the Democratic primary didn’t campaign, received 5,025 votes on the Independence Party line. Tonko’s entry into the race didn’t come until May, after Democratic candidate after Democratic candidate began announcing intentions to run for the seat McNulty held for 20 years. He made it known last fall he would not seek re-election.

Tonko bested four other Democrats in the Sept. 9 primary, by huge margins in Schenectady and Montgomery, the counties he represented for two dozen years in the Assembly.

Buhrmaster had a primary as well, but handily won against young entrepreneur Steven Vasquez.

Buhrmaster, who is relatively new to politics other than serving in his second-term in the Schenectady County Legislature, went aggressively after Tonko in television ads and debates, saying Tonko is a “career politician” who looked out for his own interests in the Assembly and not the people’s.

Tonko’s name recognition was likely too difficult to overcome. Tonko stuck to his messages of accomplishment in the Legislature, such as the passage of mental health parity legislation, and his record as chairman on the Assembly’s energy committee and his most recent post as president of the New York state Energy, Research and Development Authority.

Source: Times Union