Published: November 04, 2009 02:03 am      

NORTH TONAWANDA: Ortt wins in landslide as GOP has grand night

The City of North Tonawanda was swept by Republicans in all seven races, including that for mayor where Clerk-Treasurer Rob Ortt won with a whopping 65 percent of the vote.

Though turnout Tuesday was down significantly from four years ago, Ortt told supporters that the wide margin left little room for doubt that the people of North Tonawanda want their city to chart a new course.

“Tonight, voters across North Tonawanda made a choice for a different person ... old and young alike made a choice for a different future,” Ortt said at his acceptance speech. “Tonight with an overwhelming voice the people of North Tonawanda said they not only deserve better, they demand better.”

To be sure, the results were astounding in a city that leans heavily Democratic on the voter rolls.

As the numbers slowly began filtering onto the Niagara County Board of Elections Web site just before 10 p.m., incumbent Mayor Larry Soos felt compelled to informally concede defeat among a crowd of friends and supporters at Witter’s Sports Bar on Oliver Street, which his family had until recently run as Soos’ Oliver Street Cafe for some 50 years.

Early numbers put Ortt ahead in a big way, leading with 64 percent even with just 62 percent of votes counted.

Just a minute earlier, Soos and aides had been given false hope when a television newscast mistakenly reversed the vote counts for the two candidates — a scenario more believable in a city dominated by registered Democrats.

Quickly, the error was corrected and a mayor known for his off-the-cuff nature was left nearly speechless.

“Wow,” Soos said. “What did I do wrong? ... If I was going to lose OK, but I can’t be losing by that much,” he said.

“I’m amazed,” he said before settling on this sentiment: “Ahh, the people spoke and that’s what it’s all about.”

Soos had been calm throughout the evening but clearly had trouble grasping for reasons why his administration was so categorically rejected for a young challenger with what the mayor regarded as few firm campaign promises.

Perhaps the answer could be found somewhere amid charged-up guests back at GOP headquarters, where a well-run event was staged at Deerwood Golf Course on Sweeney Street.

It bore a completely different look and feel.

A who’s who of city, county and state Republican officials cheered a late-arriving Ortt wildly around the bar, taking speeches in turn on a night Republicans hailed as one of the most resounding sweeps in local history.

“Hey, there’s our mayor,” cried an elated Russ Rizzo as he greeted Ortt in the parking lot. Rizzo more narrowly defeated Democrat Chris Perna for the 9th Legislative District.

Inside, unlike the Democrats who stood crowded around an inaccurate newscast, all of this year’s victors congratulated each other beneath the glow of an overhead projector screen broadcasting the numbers in each race: Four council seats, two legislative districts and the mayor’s office.

Republicans won them all.

State Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, was the first to speak to a crowd of party members giddy with their resounding victory.

“I think tonight is the greatest night Republicans have ever had in North Tonawanda,” he said to massive applause.

With U2’s song “Beautiful Day” piped in, North Tonawanda Republican Chairman Bill Paton told a story about Ortt, saying his mayoral bid began with a letter he sent the soldier while he was overseas in Afghanistan with the Army last year.

“I got an e-mail back saying I will do what’s best for NT,” he explained.

Ortt said the night’s victories weren’t about parties, but about leaders.

“As mayor I need a good team, and I have a great team,” he said referring to the re-election of two Republican councilman and two new GOP members for as many open seats — a City Hall now totally devoid of Democrats in elective office.

“We’ve received the vote and now we have to earn it,” he said. “I believe that a new era in North Tonawanda city government has begun.”

The Niagara County Board of Elections reports total voter turnout in this year’s North Tonawanda mayoral contest was down 2,214 from the previous election year.

Contact reporter Neale Gulley at 693-1000, ext. 114.