Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Democrat Kevin Hardwick will move across the street from the Erie County Legislature to the Erie County Comptroller's office after defeating Republican Lynne Dixon in the election Tuesday.
Unofficially, Hardwick won the race by a margin of 52% to 47% in the highly competitive and sometimes contentious race.
"A little while ago, my opponent Lynne Dixon called me to congratulate me on my election," said Hardwick of Dixon, who had served in the legislature alongside Hardwick.
In addressing supporters late Tuesday, Hardwick said the divisiveness fostered by Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw in the post he will assume, will no longer be welcome in the office. "This campaign ended that," exclaimed Hardwick.
The race for Comptroller gained attention late in the campaign when the Dixon campaign distributed a mailing labeling Hardwick as a supporter of former President Donald Trump and as a Conservative. The mailing and an associated text message, he said, were sent as if they came from him.
In addressing his win, Hardwick said, "This will lead to the culture change, the culture change I talked about, in the Comptroller's office come January 1st."
Dixon did not address supporters at the Erie County Republican Party's election gathering.
