Incumbent Republican Gary Finch won the race for Assembly District 123, defeating Democratic challenger Barbara Abbott King by a large margin for the second time.

“I really honestly believe, looking at the numbers coming in, that the key to winning was good constituent service,” Finch said Tuesday night “It was not necessarily all me, but the way my office was run. It was certainly not a Republican night.”

Finch said his immediate plan was to return to the extraordinary session that Gov. David Paterson has called to assess the budget issue. He plans to conference with colleagues and his constituents and to support the governor's initiative.

Definite issues that he will address reflect the thrust of his campaign: First, to look for resources and support and encourage the governor.

“He has to do courageous things,” Finch said.

“I am definitely not going to be encouraged to raise taxes.”

He will also pursue the sales tax the Native American business are failing to pay, he said, and he will work on flushing out Medicaid fraud.

King attributed Finch's win to his association with state Sen. Michael Nozzolio.

“They've always been attached in this district,” she said. “I'm very worried. I ran on the issues that I thought were most relevant, and I see an absolutely bleak, bleak future.”

King cited pollution problems, the quality of area lakes, and inequities for workers.

“For me, personally, it's a shame that hardworking people who put a lifetime of work in have no way out,” she said.

“People in control have no creativity or imagination.”

King, a grass-roots agricultural producer, with no legislative experience, challenged businessman Finch's eight-year Assembly record, saying Finch sat on committees but didn't do the groundwork to establish new industry in the district.

A native of Ithaca, Abbott-King moved to a farm on Cayuga Lake, where she became actively involved in agricultural production.

Her perspective on taxation included preserving human dignity, social justice, economic consumption, and resource protection.

Finch, a funeral director from Auburn, said, lacking revenues, the state would address spending issues through zero-based budgeting, going after $4.5 billion in Medicaid fraud and collecting $300 million to $500 million in unclaimed sales taxes, such as those unpaid by Native American businesses, who sell to non-Native Americans. King agreed with his approach.

Finch said he didn't think of his win as a mandate.

“That would be arrogant,” he said. “I'm going to continue to work very hard for my constituents.”

Staff writer Kathleen Barran

can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net