With a group of seven Republicans and two Democrats holding a bare 9-8 majority, this Tuesday’s elections were crucial as to who will control the Westchester County Board of Legislators.

With a group of seven Republicans and two Democrats holding a bare 9-8 majority, this Tuesday’s elections were crucial as to who will control the Westchester County Board of Legislators.

Three of the 17 districts up for election were considered battleground districts, and the GOP won all three of them.

Republicans Francis Corcoran and Mike Smith defeated Democrats Karen Schleimer and John Diaconis, for a net pickup of one seat; and Republican Sheila Marcotte retained her seat.
County Executive Rob Astorino has worked with the bi-partisan coalition to pass his legislation; and it looks like he can rely on a strengthened coalition over the next two years – likely eight Republicans and two Democrats.

Rye’s Catherine Parker, who was handily reelected to her seat in the County Legislature, is not aligned with the bipartisan coalition.

Board Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, one of the two Democrats who formed the coalition in 2014, described Tuesday’s results as “victory for the coalition of the willing.”

Since Astorino was elected in 2009, the GOP has gained a net of three seats in the Legislature even though registered Democrats outnumber Republicans two-to-one in the County.

— Robin Jovanovich and Tom McDermott