Politics on the Hudson

  Joe Bruno is puzzled by voters in the Lower Hudson Valley.

   “I don’t understand the decision that people in Westchester-Yonkers would make in rejecting a senator, a leader, like Nick Spano who delivers,’’ Bruno said today. “If the constituency is thinking about results, Nick should have won 2-1. No one gets better results than he on behalf of their constituency.’’

   Republican Spano, who was first elected in 1986, is trailing Democrat Andrew Stewart Cousins in ballots cast last Tuesday. Spano squeaked by Stewart-Cousins two years ago. He hasn’t yet conceded this race, however. 

   The prejudice of  Bruno, the Senate majority leader from upstate Brunswick, near Albany, is understandable. Stewart- Cousin’s defeat of Spano, the only member of the Legislature seeking re-election who lost this year, narrows the Republican Senate majority to 34-28. 

   Stewart-Cousins, as a freshman and also a minority Democrat, will certainly initially have far less influence in the Senate than Spano. But Bruno did allow that having the ear of the new governor and fellow Democrat,  Eliot Spitzer, will enhance her effectiveness.

  “I wish her well,’’ Bruno said.