Here's the political race that made the difference, the Legislature's district 9.

Democrat Stephen Herz defeats republican incumbent William Miller by just 18 votes.

Miller was ahead after election night, but the count of the absentees makes Herz the unofficial winner.

It means the Broome County Legislature will be controlled by democrats in 2007.

The balance of power will be 10 democrats and 9 republicans.

Right now, it's 12 republicans and 7 democrats.

Paper ballots for District 6 and District 9 of the Broome County Legislature were the first to be opened...

And counted at the Broome County Board of Elections.

"You have a lot of anxious people out there and they want to know those results," says one voter.

People like Broome County Executive Barbara Fiala.

She was all smiles as the outcome put Democrats in majority control of the Broome County Legislature.

"This will help me with my agenda to move the county forward and to accomplish more than we've been able to do in the past 2 years because of political stalemates," says Fiala.

The power shift will determine who sits in the legislature chairs.

Instead of 12 Republicans and 7 Democrats, now the chairs will hold 10 Democrats and 9 Republicans.

Once Democrats take control in 2007, they will make changes like
selecting a new legislative chairman.

And they can pick the lawmakers who serve and chair committees.

One leading Democrat, Mark Whalen, is looking forward to the shift in power.

"It's been a long, long time since the democrats have been entrusted to lead county government in the legislature," says Broome Legislator Mark Whalen.

It's been since 1990.

Even though the spotlight is shining on the Democrats, both Fiala and Whalen say cooperation will still have to come from both sides of the aisle.

Another close race for Broome County Legislature was in district 6 where republican incumbent Thomas Hull was ahead by 25 votes after election night.

After absentee ballots were counted today Hull remains the winner.

He won by 31 votes over Democratic challenger Suzanne Gorman Messina.

Military ballots still have to be counted in all the races, but they're not expected to change the results.

Hear why Broome Republicans think the GOP lost control and plans to work with democrats, Wedesday night on Action News at 11.