Democrat Cynthia Aikman unseated Republican incumbent Patrick McIntosh in the race for a seat in the 15th district of the Cayuga County Legislature.

Unofficial results reported by the Cayuga County Board of Elections show that Aikman defeated McIntosh by 432 votes, 766 to 334.

“I'm very pleased and thrilled,” Aikman said after the results came in.

Aikman, the Democratic challenger who also ran on the Independent Auburn Party line, brings with her 15 years of City Hall experience. During that time, she was the program manager for economic development in the city of Auburn.

Aikman, 46, ran her campaign on the platform of “cooperative governance.”

During her campaign, Aikman said three issues of importance to people in the 15th district included regular communication with their legislator, working together to solve issues and the high tax rates.

Aikman, of Auburn, is self-employed and has no prior elected office experience. This was her first time running for office.

McIntosh, R-Auburn, was appointed in March to represent the 15th district. He replaced the late Steven Netti. Since that time, he has worked to attract more manufacturing jobs to the area because he believes that they are the key to revitalizing the city of Auburn and Cayuga County.

Two other issues he wanted to focus his efforts on are neighborhood revitalization and working with veterans to ensure that they are receiving the benefits entitled to them.

McIntosh, 39, of Auburn, is a sales engineer and a member of the Navy Reserves. McIntosh has eight months of elected office experience and this was his first time running for office.

He believes he lost, he said, because this was a tough year to be a Republican on the ballot, especially with the interest the presidential election garnered.

“I think a lot of people are just voting Democrat across the board ... We did everything we could do,” Aikman said. “I congratulated (Cynthia) in her victory and for running a clean campaign, and I wished her luck.”

McIntosh said that he may run again next year.

In the meantime, he will continue serving in the Navy Reserves and working on his business, he said.

“When I retire from the military in the next year or so, that will help free up time and allow me to dedicate more time to the Legislature,” McIntosh said.

Aikman's top priorities between now and the time she will be officially sworn in will be learning, asking questions and meeting with other legislators, administrators and department heads, she said. She attributes her win to the way she ran her campaign, she said.

“I ran a door-to-door campaign starting in the summer and made a lot of contacts with the constituents of the district and listened and asked to participate with me as we move forward,” she said.

Staff writer Gitana Mirochnik can be reached at 253-5311 or gitana.mirochnik@lee.net