Katz Leads Borkowski in 99th Assembly Primary

Veterinarian Dr. Steve Katz holds the lead and will likely defeat attorney and former Southeast judge James Borkowski in the Republican Primary for the 99th Assembly District. In the November election, Katz will face off Democratic rival, Brendan Tully, of Yorktown.

Although losing the Republican primary, Borkowski will appear on the Conservative line for the general election in November. 

The race was too close to call Tuesday night, but Katz was leading by 169 votes according to unofficial results in Westchester with 92 percent of the districts reporting. Katz had secured 53 percent of the vote to Borkowski's 47 percent as of about 1 a.m. essentially securing victory. Borkowski, a Brewster resident, won Putnam County by seven votes, but lost in Dutchess County by 79 votes.

Awaiting results at the Katz rally at Murphy's Restaurant were friends and campaign supporters.

District tallies came in very slowly, however, throughout the night. Katz, who led by just three percent in Westchester County as of 10:30 p.m., eventually opened the gap to a solid five percent as further districts reported. A win seemed guaranteed after the Dutchess County districts finally reported just after 11:00 p.m, putting Katz ahead by over 150 votes. 

"I feel a great sense of satisfaction," Katz said. "It's been an incredibly intense adventure."

Katz said he would keep the promises he made to voters while campaigning.

"I am very grateful to the voters of this assembly," Katz said after hugging his wife, Nicole, and friends. "They took that leap of faith to nominate the outsider."

Though yesterday's voters came out in historically low numbers, confidence was high among Katz supporters that a win was imminent.

"People came out today, they were informed, and their vote counted," said Yorktown resident and United Taxpayers of Yorktown president, Ed Ciffone.

Shortly before midnight, Borkowski called it a night, and said it was too close to call.   

Steve Katz lives in Mohegan Lake with his wife and has a veterinarian practice in the Bronx. This was his first run for elected office.

Throughout the campaign Katz and Borkowski have been criticizing each other. Borkowski has called Katz a hypocrite for taking a stance on making English the official state language (a position Borkowski supports) while catering to Spanish-speaking customers at his veterinary practice. Borkowski said he supports a statewide crackdown on illegal immigrants and plans to introduce a law similar to the Arizona law. 

Katz had criticized his opponent for unethical behavior and for taking the left-leaning Working Families Party endorsement in his 2009 run for Putnam County sheriff.

During the race, Katz, a conservative Republican and Tea Party candidate, had announced he is not a career politician and was running to restore integrity and honesty in Albany, as well as to restore fiscal responsibility to the state budget. He wanted to freeze taxes and crack down illegal immigration.

Borkowski, a conservative Republican, stood similarly on the issues, and believed in lowering taxes, limiting government, restoring honesty and integrity in Albany. According to him the number one issue in Albany has been runaway spending.

As of September 16, Katz in still in the lead with a total of 253 votes ahead. So far, 126 out of the 127 districts in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties have reported. 

Katz's lead continued to increase as results were rolling in. In Westchester, where 98 percent of the districts had reported, he is 181 votes ahead of his opponent Borkowski. Katz won Dutchess County by 79 votes, and lost Putnam County by seven votes.

To follow the latest unofficial results in Westchester, click here. 

The Putnam County results are: Katz- 2,137, Borkowski- 2,144.

The Dutchess County results are: Katz- 325, Borkowski- 246. 

The 99th Assembly District covers Patterson, Southeast and Carmel in Putnam County; North Salem, Somers and Yorktown in Westchester County; and Pawling in Dutchess County.