Governor Cuomo - who had said he would "do whatever I can do to elect Barbara Fiala" to the state Senate - didn't call his former DMV commissioner after she lost the special election to Republican Frederick Akshar.

Barbara Fiala in the "Binghamton Now" studio on Wednesday morning. BOB JOSEPH/WNBF NEWS
Barbara Fiala in the "Binghamton Now" studio on Wednesday morning. BOB JOSEPH/WNBF NEWS
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Fiala was the Democratic candidate in the race to fill the unexpired term of Republican Thomas Libous, who was forced out of the Senate after he was convicted of lying to the FBI.

Akshar easily defeated Fiala in the November 3 election in the district which includes Broome, Tioga, Chenango and Delaware counties.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now progra, Fiala was asked whether she had heard from the governor, who had expressed enthusiasm for her candidacy in July. She said: "I did put myself on the line and, no, I have not."

Fiala couldn't explain why Cuomo hadn't called. She speculated that "he's busy."

After a race in which she received very little financial - or any other - support from state Democrats, Fiala acknowledged being "disappointed in a lot of things."

With Cuomo doing virtually nothing publicly to support Fiala's campaign since his brief praise in a single radio interview, there's been speculation the governor may not have wanted Democrats to gain the Senate seat.

Fiala said: "You know, I think there's a lot that goes on between the governor and the Senate Republicans and the Senate Democrats" that she doesn't know "or even understand."

As for her future, Fiala said: "I don't know what's next for me." But she said she did not regret running for the Senate seat.

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