Incumbents Map Plan for Future

11/7/2012 (Updated 6:56:20 PM)

(Source: Jason Weinstein)

The day after scoring an election-night win by a wide margin was a very different workday for Broome County Executive Debbie Preston.

"This morning I got up and was like, 'wow, this is different.' I've been running since April of 2011," said Preston.

Preston has essentially been running for Executive for two years: last year for the special election in November, and this year to earn a full four-year term. now she says her priorities include spurring business development at the airport corridor - and with a majority in the Legislature she agrees there are few excuses to not push her agenda.

"There's so much more that we have to do. We've accomplished a lot in the first ten months but there's so much more we have to do. And this now will give me the time to focus 100 percent," said Preston.

State Senator Tom Libous won his 13th term last night, and says his  priority is to target tax breaks for small business.

"We have a tax package, something I'm going to try to put through the Senate that is going to help small businesses so that they can employ more people," said Libous.

For Democratic Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo - who won a fifth term last night - Hurricane Sandy has forced her to make sure the flood mitigation needs of the Southern Tier aren't forgotten.

"Now that Downstate has suffered such a disaster I have to make sure that Upstate isn't lost in this conversation," said Lupardo.

Both Libous and Lupardo will be keeping an eye on which party controls the State Senate. Libous - for now the Deputy Majority Leader - is pushing the possibility of a ruling coalition which would include Republicans and independent Democrats.

"Republicans and the independent Democrats work together and then work together with the Democrats to try to get things done. We always love to be in control. Somebody needs to be the boss but having said that you would maybe run it a lot differently," said Libous.

The still-undetermined outcome of an Albany-area election and which party independent Brooklyn Democrat Simcha Felder caucuses with could determine which party controls the Senate. If Democrats control the Senate, Lupardo sees a shift in the priorities
of the legislature.

"Increasing the minimum wage. Also we've been fighting for a long time for equal pay for women and there are other concerns like that. The environment as well that people want to see in New York State," said Lupardo.

****In Binghamton, Jason Weinstein, FOX 40 HD News****

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