Hoffman re-concedes congressional race

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November 24, 2009

[-BULLET-] Owens still in lead after recanvassing, paper ballots counted

By JOE LoTEMPLIO The Press Republican Tue Nov 24, 2009, 11:51 PM EST

PLATTSBURGH — Douglas Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate for the 23rd Congressional District seat, has re-conceded the race.

Hoffman conceded the victory to Democrat William Owens on Election Night, when it appeared that he was behind by more than 5,000 votes.

But a recanvassing of voting machines and the counting of paper ballots since the Nov. 3 election narrowed the margin to a little less than 3,000 votes, and Hoffman un-conceded last week.

But on Monday, the final ballots were counted, and Hoffman was still plenty short.

"The results re-affirm the fact that Bill Owens won," Hoffman said in a statement Tuesday.

Hoffman said supporters urged him to challenge the voting results because of glitches in some of the new electronic voting machines that were used in the 11-county district.

"The shift in support since Election Night highlights one fact: The Board of Elections, both state and county, need to work closely to ensure the seamless use of these machines in the 2010 statewide and mid-term elections," Hoffman said.

His strong showing in the race was a surprise to many who did not think a third-party candidate could fare so well.

Hoffman easily outpolled Republican Dierdre "Dede" Scozzafava, who dropped out of the race three days before Election Day, when her poll numbers showed her gaining only about 20 percent of the vote.

Scozzafava, an assemblywoman from Gouverneur in St. Lawrence County, then endorsed Owens instead of Hoffman.

Hoffman said that while he may have lost, the race proved Americans are "sick and tired of the status quo in both Albany and Washington.

"They (his supporters) proved that average Americans can stand up and make their voices heard all the way from Watertown to Washington.

"They proved that the voters are sick and tired of wasteful government spending, high taxes and an ever-growing deficit."

Hoffman said he was grateful to his supporters and planned to stay active in politics.

Owens, a Plattsburgh attorney, was sworn in to Congress on Nov. 6, three days after the election.

He has since been named to serve on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Homeland Security.

He named Stephen M. Hunt as his district representative.

Hunt, a North Country native, was the North Country regional director for Gov. David Paterson before joining Owens's staff.

E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com