The biggest change by far was the overhaul in the 15-member County Legislature, where at least eight new Democratic members were elected in a year when many thought a taxpayer revolt would turn County Hall upside down.

In the marquee races, Democratic newcomer Mark C. Poloncarz won the race for county comptroller and Republican Timothy B. Howard won election as sheriff.

Poloncarz, 37, a business lawyer who ran Sen. John F. Kerry's local campaign for president last year, easily defeated Republican John Canavan. Former City Comptroller Robert E. Whelan, a Democrat running as a Conservative, finished a distant third.

"Isn't it about time to send a professional into the comptroller's office?" Poloncarz said Tuesday night. "If we see the same risky schemes and gimmicks that have driven Erie County to the edge of bankruptcy, I will not be afraid to use the bully pulpit of the comptroller's office."

Howard also won a hotly contested campaign, defeating Democrat Charles T. Fieramusca in a race that featured charges of favoritism and personal gain.

In the end, Howard a law enforcement official for 33 years, won easily. He was appointed sheriff in June after Republican Patrick M. Gallivan stepped down to join the state Parole Board.

One of the most dramatic changes in Erie County's leadership is the turnover in the County Legislature, a body under attack for its handling of the county budget crisis.

It was the county's fiscal meltdown that helped convince seven incumbent lawmakers to step down this year, leaving the door open to a major turnover on the 15-member Legislature.

If the final but unofficial results hold true, the Legislature will have nine new members, most likely eight Democrats and one Republican.

The outcome was less than certain last night because of a close race between Republican John J. Mills and Democrat Suzann M. Cushman in the 13th legislative district.

Mills, an Orchard Park Town Board member and businessman, was leading Cushman, an employment services specialist, by 219 votes with 96 percent of the vote counted.

Of the nine newcomers, all but two replace lawmakers who decided not to seek re-election. The two exceptions are newly elected Democrats Cynthia E. Locklear and Kathy Konst.

"I'm thrilled," said Locklear. "It's a great opportunity for change to start. It means voters want change and they're willing to commit with their votes to make change."

Locklear, a lawyer and political novice, defeated Republican Thomas J. Brooks and incumbent Timothy M. Wroblewski in the 9th District representing West Seneca.

Konst, a business owner and former teacher, beat freshman Republican Denise E. Marshall in the 5th District of Lancaster, Alden and Marilla area.

"There's an anti-incumbency mood," Konst said. "It also helped that I'm not an unknown entity in this area. People know who I am. They know my work record."

Despite the anti-status quo attitude among voters, Marshall and Wroblewski were the only incumbents who ran for re-election and lost.

The winners included the Legislature's three leaders: Chairman George A. Holt of Buffalo, Majority Leader Leader Lynn M. Marinelli of the Town of Tonawanda and Minority Leader Michael E. Ranzenhofer of Clarence.

"I want to thank every one of you who stood by us during the hurricane, and I was the eye of the storm," Holt told supporters Tuesday night.

Of the three, Marinelli was thought to be the one most at risk of losing. She won her race against Republican Brian H. Krauss, winning by a margin of more than 16 percentage points.