My concession speach...

As imagined from the podium in the empire room:

I would like to start by truly thanking everyone who worked so hard during this campaign. I owe, we all owe, so much to you. That I did not win, is not a reflection on you, but rather a reflection on the fact that I did not run for any office. This in no way diminishes the importance of all your hard work.

I congratulate my esteemed opponent. I hope that all promises of ending the bickering between the county and the city are remembered. I hope that we can truly work together, as a group, using what unites us, to do what is truly best for Onondaga County. That and maybe we can get a opportunity agenda or whatnot.

In conclusion, I would like to say, as I look out over this crowd, that Lisa Spitz and Carrie Lazarus are just as attractive in person. Thank you all once again. Some candidate needs to buy me a drink.

Random thoughts on the election and related politics:

Perhaps this is not the most genius post right after asking if anyone wanted me as their campaign manager.

Overall, we did exactly as I expected, although county-wide races we got trounced. I'm OK with Joanie winning because I expected that, and with Bob Antonacci winning because I still think he's a good candidate even with the lawsuit. I'm sorry for Marc Waldauer, I think he was truly more qualified, and what's worse he really didn't see this coming to this degree. I'm not at all OK with Fitzpatrick's win, but then I expected that one too.

In other races, we gained some strength. The most important one is that Farrell and Diblasi are out, because if there were 2 candidates I thought should be out, it's them, and if there are 2 candidates I thought should be in, it's their opponents. Plus we broke the super majority, so the legislature needs some Democratic votes to pass some things (not everything, but some things). I am somewhat disappointed that it was at the expense of Deb Moynihan. I think most of us were surprised at how well Victoria Lightfoot did in Dale's old district. She lost, but she can be proud, and the Republican that won seems one of the more progressive ones anyway.

I think we gained a few in the town positions, but the most important things are we lost by a lot less in the ones we lost, and I, in Lysander, had some actual Democrats to vote for. I'm disappointed I can't congratulate my neighbor on unseating Judge Rutherford.

The best thing to come out of the Mahoney administration thus far is this cartoon.

Final Stats
Winning percentage (for the 4 county wide races and any endorsed county leg races)
Post-Standard endorsements: 15/21 71% My endorsements: 8/18 44%
But... Campaigns I gave money to: 60%, an even 2/3 if you consider all the Pizza and Ziti I bought at Pavone's.