DelMonte wins primary for Assembly seat

Story and photo by Larry Austin
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, September 14, 2006
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, September 16, 2006

Incumbent Francine DelMonte beat down a challenge by Gary Parenti to win Tuesday’s Democratic primary election for the 138th State Assembly district seat.

DelMonte received 5,504 votes to Parenti’s 4,191, or 56.8 percent of the vote in a hotly contested race.

“I don’t take any of these campaigns for granted,” DelMonte said after the primary win. “I never take the voters for granted.”

DelMonte said she truly appreciated Lewiston and the outlying towns, who she said were “very supportive.”

“It is very special because of the negativity that was associated with my opponent’s campaign,” DelMonte said. She expressed her gratitude that the voters were able to decipher the truth through what she called “numerous personal attacks against me and my family that were unfounded, distorted, and untrue.”

“People do not respond to, and I believe dislike, negative campaigning,” she noted.

Parenti still has a spot on the November ballot on the Independence Party line. DelMonte will also face Republican Dan Bazzani in the general election.

“We’re going to go forward with a similar campaign as the primary, talking about the issues and discussing the future with a new administration, emphasizing the value of having someone with my experience and my ability to deliver resources to the community,” DelMonte said.

The general election is scheduled for Nov. 7.