Rupp Takes Clerk Race

St. Lawrence County voters overwhelmingly picked Mary Lou Rupp, a Republican, for County Clerk Tuesday.

Mrs. Rupp, Heuvelton, beat out Gavin M. Regan, a Democrat from Potsdam, by a unofficial vote of 12,599 to 5,732..

Mr. Regan was appointed to the position by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in March but had difficulty gaining political momentum after his instantaneous firing of Mrs. Rupp. She had been first deputy to Patricia A. Ritchie and became acting clerk when Mrs. Ritchie took office in the state Senate.

"Some people said it helped me to have been fired but I'd rather have been working," Mrs. Rupp said at a Republican victory party at Dave's II in Canton. "I've never been unemployed in my life. I just look forward to getting back to work. I'm grateful with the way things worked out."

Mrs. Rupp said one of her first acts when she takes office will be to move an employee from the Canton Department of Motor Vehicles to the Ogdensburg satellite office so it can remain open during lunch and to have that office help with the downstate dealer business, which she hopes to build.

Mrs. Rupp credited the Conservative nomination with giving her a boost.

The designation gave her 1,473 votes.

"It was a very big thing," Mrs. Rupp said. "I thank them for getting behind me."

County Republican Chairwoman Nancy K. Martin said she was pleased with the results for Mrs. Rupp.

""We're glad the voters got out and we thank them for their support," Mrs. Martin said.

Mrs. Rupp said she appreciated all the support she received.

"I want to thank everyone that came out to vote," she said.

Mrs. Rupp said she plans to spend time until she returns to the Clerk's office volunteering with United Helpers.