Photo submitted – Mayor-Elect Deborah A. Kaufman met with family, supporters, and friends at the American Legion while results came in on Tuesday night, November 7, 2023.
Little Falls – November 8, 2023 – Deborah A. Kaufman has claimed victory after unofficial election results were released on Tuesday night in Herkimer County.
With 1,002 votes cast, Kaufman had 59.68% of the vote, while Justin Welcyczko had 40.32%. When certified, this will make Kaufman the first female Mayor of Little Falls in its history.
Her opponent, Justin Welyczko, called to congratulate her on the win just before midnight on Tuesday.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the strong community turnout during this election. We had voters that crossed all demographics and political spectrums to unite around a shared vision of rebuilding our City for the future,” Kaufman stated.
“Like most industrial-age cities, Little Falls has its share of aging infrastructure problems and never enough money to comfortably meet our needs. We also have an extraordinary contrast of remarkable historic and natural assets that can be leveraged to realize the robust, prosperous future we’ve been dreaming about. I believe we are at an inflection point in our history with an opportunity to intentionally create a city that our parents and grandparents would be proud of.”
“I’m inspired and genuinely humbled by the bi-partisan support and the willingness of our voters to share their time and talents to work in unity to bring about the change we so badly need. This election is the first step in clearing a pathway for change. Our City has been hungry for meaningful progress for far too long,” she said.
“We need a future that provides a safe and secure environment for our families… a future that includes a sustainable economy… a future that collaborates with businesses, schools, and community members to restore the dignity and the reputation of being the region’s “postcard perfect” small city, and The Best Place to Call Home.”
“While we inherited a remarkable legacy built upon innovation, entrepreneurship, and small-town work ethics, I believe our best years are yet to come. I’m excited about the opportunity to seek solutions and secure collaboration among community stakeholders for the issues that challenge us today while continuously striving to push the limits of our imagination to create a desirable, modern city of the future,” Kaufman said.