The position for Mayor of Utica was up election last night. Hundreds gathered Tuesday night at Ocean Blue, one of the newest addictions to the revitalizing downtown Utica.
They came together to celebrate as incumbent Mayor Robert Palmieri sought reelection.
Driven by a love for the city he calls home, Palmieri felt compelled to seek a second term in office.
"I've got so much energy and so much passion for this great city," said Palmieri. "I love these people in Utica, New York."
With a majority of Tuesday's votes cast in his favor, Mayor Palmieri looks to retain his seat as he prepares for another four years of moving Utica forward.
In Rome, New York a much closer race for the city’s top job took place.
A crowded field of candidates was competing to be the next mayor of Rome Tuesday night. Incumbent Mayor Joseph Fusco was challenged by Republican candidate Jacqueline Izzo, who defeated him in the September primary election. Fusco ran in the General Election under the Rome is Home party line. Also in the race were Democratic nominee Louis Danello and Working Families candidate Michael Brown.
If elected Izzo would be the first female mayor in the city's history. Unofficial results put Izzo just 48 votes ahead of Fusco.
With absentee ballots still to be counted, the race for Mayor of Rome could come down to just a few votes.
Stories courtesy of the New York Reporting Project at Utica College.