Nov 4, 2009 12:46 am US/Eastern
New Yorkers, Meet Comptroller-Elect John Liu
Reporting
Lou Young
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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NYC Comptroller-elect John Liu
CBS
Democrat John Liu has won a decisive victory in the race for New York City Comptroller. The Queens Councilman has made history, becoming the first Asian-American elected to citywide office.
They pretty much knew they were having a victory party at John Liu's headquarters in Midtown. In fact, you could see the optimism on the candidate's face when we caught up with him earlier tonight in Harlem.
Liu was wrapping up his successful campaign for Controller at the side of the man who currently holds the office. And his is a big deal to many.
"He is also an immigrant like me, is not American-born like me, so it's very exciting," said supporter Wing Ma.
Some see his victory as a fitting reflection of national politics in the age of Obama. "I see a parallel, for him to make history," said Henry Singleton.
Liu defeated Republican Joe Mendola, an attorney who has never held political office, 76 percent to 19 percent, along with three other minor party candidates. People were already talking about a possible run for mayor in 2013, but he said he's got another job to do.
"We'll see what happens in four years. If people want me back as comptroller then, I'll run for comptroller," Liu said.
Of course four years is a long way off and no one becomes mayor in this town without a fight, but on Tuesday night, New York's new comptroller-elect is giving off the glow of a political rising star.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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