Rep. Owens

William L. Owens has won the tumultuous special election to represent New York's 23rd Congressional District. He is to be congratulated for prevailing in a tough, unpredictable, wild race.

The Democrat from Plattsburgh captured 49.4 percent of the electorate — nearly 65,000 votes — to defeat Conservative Douglas L. Hoffman, whose candidacy drew much attention nationally. Mr. Hoffman garnered 45 percent or a little more than 59,000 votes.

Mr. Owens obviously benefited from the withdrawal of Republican Dierdre K. Scozzafava from the race and her subsequent support for his candidacy. Despite suspending her campaign, she remained on the ballot and tallied 7,315 votes or 5.6 percent.

Fundraisers by President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton, as well as a visit by Vice President Joseph Biden to Watertown, obviously helped the Owens cause.

Yet it may be that the Democrat's victory is an endorsement of moderation, pragmatism and open-mindedness. Mr. Owens personally maintained a positive demeanor on the campaign trail, steadily emphasizing job creation and his desire to serve the district's key interests — small businesses, dairy farmers, Fort Drum and the like.

This congressional race has been groundbreaking in several respects. It is Northern New York's first competitive congressional contest in decades. The Owens victory marks the first time a Democrat has won here since before the Civil War. The strength of Mr. Hoffman's third-party candidacy was unexpected, as was his support from outside the district.

Although it has been intriguing to hear the rest of America's views on the 23rd district, this congressional race has been too largely defined by national trends and national issues. In the end, it was about the people of Northern New York, who voted for the person they felt would stand up for their interests in Washington.

Our new member of Congress must understand how best to represent us. To do so, he must get to know those parts of the district with which he is unfamiliar and educate himself on the issues that he is now committed to lead on.

It is time for the victorious Mr. Owens to reach out to heal the wounds that have divided Northern New Yorkers during this fractious race.

Our representatives in Washington have always heeded the concerns of the district's residents. That must continue with William L. Owens in Congress.