PORT JERVIS – The City of Port Jervis experienced the same phenomenon as most other local governments in the region with a swing to the Republican Party in the general election.

The mayor and entire city council will be Republican, the first all-Republican council since the 1990s.

Incoming mayor Russell Potter is a current councilman. He admits he will be taking over the reins in a rough economic time.

“With everything that we are facing, I gotta tell you it feels like a real challenge, to be honest with you. I think that we have our work cut out for us, but I think we are up for the challenge,” he said. “Between the federal economy dribbling down to the state economy and then down to the county, I think that’s going to be quite a hurdle to overcome, but we are going to give it our best and hope for the best.”

Potter said he is reviewing retiring Democrat Mayor Gary Lopriore’s proposed 2010 city budget and has yet to pass judgment on it.