Latimer More Concerned With Senate’s Results Than Its Leadership

State Sen.-elect George Latimer

State Senator-elect George Latimer thought that his bruising campaign against Republican Bob Cohen could have still continued through a recount, similar to his colleague Andrea Stewart-Cousins’s 2004 18-vote defeat, or ended up in court like George Amedore and Cecilia Tkaczyk’s battle.

“We thought it was going to go down to the wire, clearly the presidential race helped,” said Latimer.

But the certainty of electoral victory has been replaced with the uncertainty of rulership, when Senate Republicans and the Independent Democratic Conference tentatively reaching a deal to share power. Latimer said he was less concerned who is running the chamber, as long as those in charge put forward progressive policies that Democrats want, and he believes the minimum wage bills and the budget will be the biggest test for the new legislature.

“I do think it matters, but what we pass into law, what we stand for, and what we say is what’s important regardless of the system,” he said.