The moment Steve Kimatian realized he lost the city auditor race Tuesday, he stood silently for several minutes, his hands on his hips and face full of disappointment.

Kimatian, an adjunct professor in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, only received 6,138 votes, compared to Democrat Marty Masterpole’s 8,168 votes. It was Kimatian’s third consecutive loss in a run for public office. Kimatian, a Republican, lost the Syracuse mayoral election in 2009 and failed to win a seat in the Maryland General Assembly in 1980.

‘I enjoyed the campaign. Quite frankly it was fun – up until now,’ he told a crowd of supporters at the Onondaga County Republican Committee building after the vote totals arrived. ‘I like the habit of campaigning. I don’t like the habit of losing.’

Kimatian taught classes in the television, radio and film department at Syracuse University for three semesters from spring 2010 to spring 2011. He previously served as general manager for WSYR-TV in Syracuse and as general counsel for Newport Television, which operates 56 TV stations nationwide.

For 30 minutes Tuesday, Kimatian huddled around his campaign managers behind closed doors, waiting for the election results. At one point, the results appeared promising, as his opponent’s lead slimmed down to 5 percent. Then the next update arrived.

‘How bad off are we?’ he asked his field director, Ed Herron.

Fifty-eight percent for Masterpole; 41 percent for Kimatian. More than 2,000 votes behind, Herron responded. Kimatian knew it was over. He asked a reporter and photographer from The Daily Orange to leave the room and shut the door.

The odds never played in Kimatian’s favor. The number of Democrats in Syracuse is more than triple the number of Republicans, and Kimatian raised $37,000 less than his opponent, according to the New York State Board of Elections.

‘We were outspent 3-to-1,’ Herron acknowledged.

Masterpole will take over the position of Phil LaTessa, who is leaving because of term limits. Democrats have controlled the city auditor seat for 16 years.

Kimatian argued Masterpole’s close relationship with Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, a Democrat, would hinder his ability to make independent decisions as city auditor. Republicans also called him Miner’s ‘lap dog.’ Masterpole acknowledged that Miner’s husband donated $200 to his campaign but downplayed Kimatian’s accusations.

After the results arrived Tuesday, Masterpole took a jab at Kimatian in his speech to supporters at Pensabene’s Casa Grande, where the Democratic Party gathered.

‘I have to get this off my chest. Never in my life have I sat on Stephanie Miner’s lap,’ he said, arousing laughs from the crowd. ‘She’d have broken legs if that were the case.’

Away from the crowd, Masterpole elaborated on his comment toward Kimatian.

‘He deserved it,’ Masterpole said. ‘I hate to say that. I’ve taken a lot of punches in a month here, and it’s not easy not to fight them back.’

Masterpole spent four years on the Syracuse Common Council and served on the Onondaga County Legislature before running for city auditor. He called this election his most difficult one, because he had to fight off Kimatian’s accusations.

As city auditor, Masterpole plans to study the costs of Carrier Dome traffic agreements, which require the city to pay up to $150,000 per year for police patrols at Dome sporting events. The city should provide the best public safety at the least amount of expense to taxpayers, Masterpole said. He’ll also perform audits on city agencies like the Syracuse Housing Authority to ensure they’re spending funds wisely.

Kimatian said a long time will pass before he considers running for election again. He may teach once more at SU if the opportunity arises.

‘Politically,’ he said, ‘I really don’t have anything on that horizon.’

mcboren@syr.edu

Published on November 8, 2011 at 12:00 pm