Abinanti Takes Democratic Primary, Gears-Up for General Election

Just after 10:30 p.m on Tuesday—when more than 50 percent of voting districts' results had been logged—democratic state assembly candidate Tom Abinanti declared the primary won.

"It looks like it will be a 2 to 1 victory," Abinanti said from his campaign headquarters in Elmsford, commenting that he was not surprised by the results.

 "This campaign was overflowing with volunteers," he said. "It was truly a people's campaign."

At about 11:30 p.m., Stern called Abinanti to congratulate him on his victory.

"I thanked him for running a clean campaign and said I'd help him in any way I could," Sterne said.

"I'll continue serving on the school board and going to Albany to lobby legislators to decrease unfunded mandates on schools--now, though hopefully I'll be talking to Tom [Abinanti]."

With 86 percent of districts reporting at 12:30 a.m., Abinanti had 65 percent of the vote to Sterne's 35 percent. 

Abinanti will begin gearing-up for the general election against Republican Tom Bock immediately.

"The signs on the streets are the same as they were for the primary," he said. "And I am going to continue stressing the same four issues: school tax reduction, job stimulation, environmental conservation and reform in Albany."

Abinanti anticipates the Nov. 2 election to be a "tough race," but believes that by staying strong on the issues and uniting the 92^nd district's democrats, he will win.

"We have a strong base of people in this district who believe in progressive democratic principles," he said.