BLAUVELT — Democrat David Carlucci on Tuesday night was elected Rockland's next state senator, taking control of a seat long held by Republicans, according to unofficial results from Rockland and Orange counties' boards of elections.
Carlucci, who has served as Clarkstown's town clerk since 2006, defeated Republican C. Scott Vanderhoef, who has been Rockland's county executive since 1994.
Tapping into the sentiment of change, Carlucci will succeed the late Thomas Morahan, who had held the seat since 1999. Before he died of cancer in July, Morahan, a Republican, said he would not seek re-election.
"It's really overwhelming and a humbling experience," Carlucci told Democratic supporters at Casa Mia Manor House. Carlucci said he was proud to be able to help move New York in a new direction and solve the problems in Albany.
Speaking to nearly 100 Republican supporters at the Comfort Inn in Nanuet, Vanderhoef said he was "most disappointed" for the Morahan family.
"I told them I was sorry that we couldn't win this one for Tom," said Vanderhoef, whose wife and three daughters stood by his side.
During the often contentious campaign, both men railed against the corruption in Albany.
Vanderhoef, 62, said his experience of having to work under dysfunctional state policies gave him an advantage to make the needed changes, while Carlucci, 29, positioned himself as an outsider from state politics and vowed to help implement reform.
Both men said they would fight to overturn the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's payroll tax, supported independent redistricting and proposed different ways to lure large and small business back to New York state.
Outside of the New City Library, Carlucci supporters pointed to his youth and energy while Vanderhoef backers said their man had a history of making tough decisions.
"We need some young blood up there," Sheryl Kamenetsky said of Carlucci.
Dolores Pilla, who's lived in Rockland for four years, said she voted for Vanderhoef.
"He's honest," Pilla said.
Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district by 2-to-1, but Republicans have held the seat since 1990 — Joseph Holland until 1999 and then Morahan.
The 38th state Senate District covers all of Rockland and the towns of Tuxedo and Warwick in Orange County. The position has a two-year term and pays about $80,000 annually.
A Vanderhoef win would mean the Democratic-controlled Rockland Legislature would get to appoint his replacement.
Vanderhoef also ran on the Independence and Conservative party lines, and Carlucci was on the Working Families party line.