2009 Election results (Updated 12:30 a.m. EST)

AS I PREPARE TO GO TO BED with this last post of election night, with 88 percent of votes counted, three and a half hours after polls closed in New York, Rob Astorino (R), nephew of our Father Bob Astorino (Hong Kong), STILL leads incumbent Andy Spano (D) 80,592 (57.6%) to 59,314 (42.4%) for Westchester County Executive.

With 87% of the vote counted for the suddenly famous 23rd Congressional District WAY Upstate, MSNBC reports that Conservative Doug Hoffman has conceded to Democrat Doug Hoffman.

Dede Scozzafava, the Republican candidate, was forced to withdraw when the Right Wingnuts of the GOP (Palin, Beck, Pawlenty & Co.) blind-sided her and supported the Conservative candidate. She then turned around and threw her support to the Democrat. Because her name remains on the ballot, Scozzafava is pulling 6,725 votes or 5.5%. Owens has become the first Democrat to represent that district since the Civil War. Clearly those ornery Upstaters (just ask Br. Wayne) have rejected meddling outsiders.

Meanwhile up in Maine, the bill to repeal same-sex marriage rights is still too close to call. This, despite an unprecedented effort by the Roman Catholic diocese of Portland to have it overturned. The Governor of Maine, John Baldacci, a Catholic, signed the bill into law earlier this year, explaining it simply as a case of equality under the law.

Mini election

VOTING has already begun at Maryknoll's polling place in this off-off year election. Of local interest is Rob Astorino (R) running for Westchester County Executive against incumbant Andy Spano (D).

How will the voters at Maryknoll (roughly 600 registered!) vote, given conflicting currents? They over-whelmingly voted for Obama last year (103 to 21) and are heavily Democratic, but Astorino is the nephew of our own Fr. Bob Astorino (Hong Kong). In addition, he and Spano effectively dilute the Italian voting block. (My father always advised me to vote for the candidate with a vowel at the end of his/her name.)

If I could only figure out what part of Italy Spano's ancestors came from, my right hand won't whither when I vote for Republican Astorino.

Sent from my iPhone

Developments in Development

Father Bob Jalbert has been appointed new head of the Mission Education and Promotion Department (MEP). MEP includes fundraising, church dates, appeals, MARYKNOLL & Revista Maryknoll Magazines, Orbis books, New Media and the web. Bob (my classmate from Hingham '73) is immensely qualified for this new position and we wish him all the best, prayers and blessings on his new assignment.

The dilemma now is this: Bob leads the pack in the revote for regional superior, having gotten 13. In the next round, only he and the other three top vote-getters (Fr. Steve Booth, Fr. Mike Duggan and Fr. John Moran) vie for the top position. Does heading MEP help or hinder Bob's election chances?

Stayed tuned!