Updated 11/09/2011 08:19 AM
Tkazyik re-elected mayor of Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie Mayor John Tkazyik won his re-election bid against Democrat Ken Levinson just four years after becoming the city's youngest mayor ever. John Wagner has more on this close race.
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When the final election day numbers came through, a party started at the Tkazyik family restaurant. Out of nearly five thousand votes, a 122 vote majority resulted and the Republican mayor will take it.
"This is an exciting win for the city. This is a 3:1 Democratic city. This is a victory for the residents," said Tkazyik.
Nearly five hundred absentee ballots were sent out so the race won't be officially over until those are received and recorded.
Challenger Ken Levinson does not plan to concede the race until the results are final. But Tkazyik spent the night thanking voters for giving him a second chance.
"Four years ago the voters of our city wanted change, they were tired of double digit tax increases, they were tired of main street being a ghost town after 5:00 at night, and we have made that change over the last four years," said Tkazyik.
Tkazyik was 21 when first elected to the common council ten years ago. He spent six years there before becoming the second youngest mayor in city history and by the end of another term he will have 14 years of political experience.
"Main street is alive again, we've held the line on spending and taxes, we've brought in new development bringing in new jobs during a tough economic recession, we've gotten our fiscal house in order," said Tkazyik.
Tkazyik said now that many repairs are complete, it's time to grow Poughkeepsie. The vote may not be certified though until late this month.