CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — People in the communities of Cheektowaga, Lancaster, Sloan, and Depew voted for change when it comes to their representative in Albany.
2 On Your Side has more on an upset win for Republicans and Conservatives in what is usually a "very blue" 143rd State Assembly District.
Assemblymember-Elect Patrick Chludzinski says he is "used to it" as people ask him how to properly pronounce his last name.
Reporters and residents will have to get used to it after Chludzinski, on the Republican/Conservative lines, beat incumbent Democrat Monica Wallace by at least a 2,300-vote margin among over 57,000 ballots cast.
His law-and-order stance in all those TV spots propelled the Iraq war vet and Cheektowaga Police lieutenant in a normally 6-to-1 Democrat voter-affiliation majority area. That was perhaps offset with a cross endorsement by the former Democrat town supervisor and council member, and apparently many Democrats choosing to split their ballots for a native son of Sloan.
Chludzinski told 2 On Your Side: "They know me from being in our community for so many years, working at the police department. I know our community well. I know what the issues are in our community."
And he listed them as "affordability, taxes, crime, and the migrant crisis that had hit our town directly."
That last point flared into controversy, especially with costs for children of asylum seekers placed in the Maryvale School District.
Wallace had claimed in a news release and interview in April that the district's expenses put at $800,000 by district officials had been covered in the state budget with additional money from New York City. But in a subsequent interview with Channel 2, the superintendent disputed that claim.
And there was also the 2023 police response for incidents like sexual assaults at the hotels for migrants who will be leaving at the end of the year.
In addition Chludzinski, with his police background, brought up concerns with retail theft and the seeming epidemic of stolen cars in the area over the past couple of years.
Wallace, who had served in Albany since 2017, in just an emailed statement on Wednesday noted her accomplishments with investments in schools, parks and infrastructure and also congratulated Chludzinski.
The newly elected lawmaker said "we related to our voters and our district residents and I hope to do them proud going to the New York State Assembly."
Monica Wallace, perhaps ironically, in February supported term limits legislation for state lawmakers.
Chludzinski may be sworn in in January when the state legislature opens session in Albany.