MALONE - In a decisive victory, Janet Duprey emerged the victor of the 115th state Assembly district.

Duprey, who unofficially received 53 percent of the vote, held off challengers Tim Carpenter, a Democrat who received 26 percent, and Bisso with 21 percent. In Franklin County, Duprey received 8,332 votes, Carpenter garnered 3,349, and Bisso picked up 2,044.

“It’s pretty clear that I had a lot of bipartisan support,” said Duprey. “I think that it proves you can run a positive campaign.”

Duprey said there was negative campaigning surrounding the race, though she said her campaign materials were all positive.

“I wanted to send a message ... that we don’t need to be negative,” she said.

Duprey will serve in the Assembly for the next two years. She said she looks forward to continuing what she has been doing. She added her main goal is to create jobs in the North Country.

Duprey said she also looks forward to the completion of the Enbridge St. Lawrence Gas Pipeline from Norfolk in St. Lawrence County to Chateaugay and other projects.

Duprey has served in the Assembly since Nov. 7, 2006. She worked in various positions as a public servant before then, including serving on the Clinton County Legislature and as Clinton County treasurer.

Carpenter, a longshot in the race, said that despite losing, he has no regrets.

“It’s been a great experience,” he said Tuesday. “Win or lose, I’ve won because it’s been a great learning experience. It’s a positive, no matter what. ... This is a lesson I can pass on to my kids: You can fail in life and still get up and move on.”

Going into the race, Carpenter was well aware that he had an uphill battle.

“There hasn’t been a Democratic representing this area in 50 years,” he said, “and it’s very hard to beat an incumbent, so I had two big hurdles to overcome.”

Carpenter, a correctional officer at Franklin Correctional Facility in Malone, may not be heading to Albany, but his life as a public servant is far from over. He is currently serving his second three-year term on the Plattsburgh City Council, a position he relishes.

“I really enjoy what I do for the city,” he said.

Bisso, also a Republican and a special education teacher in Plattsburgh, ran on the Conservative ticket following a defeat by Duprey in the Republican primary.

Bisso, those who helped her campaign, and her supporters gathered at Meron’s in Plattsburgh to wait for the results Tuesday night.

“We’re having a good time,” said Alicia Sirk, Bisso’s campaign chair, around 8 p.m. Tuesday. “We’re enjoying it. We’re happy with what we’ve done.”

Despite most precincts reporting by late Tuesday, Bisso did not concede defeat to Duprey.

Doug Buchanan contributed to this report.

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