BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Election 2019 coverage in Western New York has been highlighted by the race for Erie County Executive.
Incumbent Mark Poloncarz, a democrat, is seeking a third term as the county's top official while long-time Erie County Legislator Lynne Dixon, a member of the independence party running on the republican line, is looking to oust him.
Both admitted that the campaign has been a long journey and one of the longest campaigns they've endured.
"If it is a marathon we've passed the 26th mile and I can see the finish line," Poloncarz said.
"It's been almost one year of campaigning," Dixon said. "The people I've met along the way have really inspired me and motivated me and encouraged me to keep going. It's because of them that I still feel energized this late into the campaign. It will be nice to finally get the election over with and move forward."
Both candidates ran a series of negative ads against one another. Dixon's campaign ran ads on Poloncarz using altered images of the county executive with Governor Andrew Cuomo, though the Poloncarz campaign also photoshopped images of Dixon next to disgraced former Congressman Chris Collins.
Neither candidate has regrets over running the ads, with both arguing that content put out was factual.
Election 2019 coverage on WBEN begins when the polls close at 9 p.m.