Saland All But Concedes to Gipson a Month After Election Day
Just over a month after Election Day, State Senator Steven Saland (R-Poughkeepsie) released a statement that indicates that he is ready to end his bid for re-election—if the results from recount done by the Board of Elections conclude that Terry Gipson (D-Rhinebeck), a trustee for the Village of Rhinebeck won the 41st State Senatorial District.
“I have instructed our attorneys… to allow the Boards of Elections to independently count the remaining votes, without any burden or delay of additional oversight,” said Saland in the statement.
Election night showed Gipson having a 1,563 lead at the polls with Gipson having earned 49,342 votes and state Senator Steve Saland (R- Poughkeepsie) had 47,749. Conservative candidate Neil DiCarlo (C-Brewster) received 16,220 votes.
With over 12,000 absentee ballots and affidavits that still needed to be counted, Saland was confident on election night that he still had an opportunity to win the race.
During the recount process conducted by the Dutchess Board of Elections Gipson’s lead shrunk, but remained solid. By the day’s end on Friday, Dec. 7, Gipson was still ahead by 1,181 votes with 2,267 absentee ballots and 1,400 affidavits that still needed to counted.
“Although we have gained a significant number of votes during the recount, and the margin has been greatly reduced, I have used the weekend to reassess our standing,” said Saland. “Despite these gains, it is becoming apparent that we may not gain enough in the end to ultimately be successful.”
Saland has held the state Senate seat for the past 22 years and was in the state assembly for a decade previous to that. A turning point for Saland came last July when he was one of four Republican senators to love in favor of legalizing gay marriage.
In response to his vote, he his life-long endorsement from the Conservative Party was dropped. In his place the party backed Neil DiCarlo, a Brewster resident who is highly religious and wanted to fight the legalization of same-sex marriages.
On the floor of the legislature Saland said it was the hardest vote he ever had to cast. “I am a very traditional person,” he said. “In the past I had thought civil unions would be adequate to the task and as I read all of the items that. My parents brought me up to be tolerant and respectful and to always think in terms of equality. I think that was the deciding thing for me.”
Saland knew his vote could cost him his career.
“It has been a great honor for me to serve the good people of the Hudson Valley as their New York State Senator,” said Saland.
Gispon, who has lived in Rhinebeck for five years and is serving his second term on the village board trustees, claimed victory on election night.
“I am honored and humbled with that you chose me to be your New York State Senator,” Gipson stated in an open letter to his supporters. “We are busy making the transition to my new role as your NYS Senator for the 41st District.”
He has been setting up his transition team in Rhinebeck and is expected to take office Jan. 1.
The 41st State Senatorial District represents most of Dutchess (except Pawling and Beekman) and the towns of Kent, Philipstown and Putnam Valley in Putnam.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
