Incumbent state Assemblyman Michael Cole, R-Alden, defied the odds and landed the Republican nomination in a 142nd District nominating convention Wednesday night.

Cole, who suffered professional damage after a scandal involving an intern last year, bested Jane Corwin, the pick of Erie and Niagara counties’ GOP executive committees, in weighted secret balloting among members of the counties’ party committees. The unpublicized convention was held at Montgomery Park retirement community in East Amherst. By the rules, committeemen could vote for Cole or Corwin, only.

Corwin, a wealthy Clarence businesswoman supported by GOP Erie County Executive Christopher Collins, kicked off her Republican campaign last month at stops including downtown Lockport, where city and town officials participated — and Niagara County GOP Committee Chairman Henry Wojtaszek declared her to be the only viable candidate.

Cole fairly crowed about his convention win Thursday. He called the result “huge” and said he owed it to rank-and-file committee support that defied executive attempts to dismiss him.

“This race isn’t about political insiders and party bosses, and it’s not about campaign bank accounts,” Cole said. “The people of Western New York want a representative in Albany who knows what it’s like to struggle to make ends meet.”

The result is possibly a loss of face for city and town of Lockport officials who stepped up to second Corwin’s nomination — and cause for celebration by Royalton town GOP committee chairman Robert Johnston, who seconded Cole’s nomination.

“I like underdogs,” Johnston said. “Mike Cole is a good man. He’s done whatever the Town of Royalton asked of him. When we need his help, he’s there. He’s done a good job.”

By contrast, Mayor Michael Tucker said, he supported Corwin because he thinks Cole is rendered powerless by the Legislative punishment that followed his winter 2007 admission of impropriety involving an intern.

Following a New York Post report, Cole, a married man with two young children, admitted he’d spent the night at the female intern’s Albany apartment after being out with her and having too much to drink. He confessed an error of judgment to local TV cameras, while insisting nothing inappropriate had taken place between him and the intern.

The Assembly quickly censured Cole, and he was stripped of his seniority and committee leadership posts. He also was barred from participating in the legislative intern program and has since struggled with diminished office staffing.

“Personally I like Mike Cole. My issue isn’t with the intern thing, it’s with what happened afterward,” Tucker said. “He’s got no juice. It affected how effective he can be in Albany.”

Deborah Gaskill, deputy supervisor of the Town of Lockport, offered an additional second of Corwin’s nomination. Gaskill could not be reached for comment on her choice Thursday.

Cole’s father-in-law, Ralph Witt, offered an additional second on his nomination. Cole and Corwin were both given time to make speeches before the balloting and, according to Johnson, Cole used some of his time to acknowledge the scandal — and claim it as an experience that made him “a better husband, father and assemblyman.”

“It takes a man to admit he made a mistake,” Johnston said. “If his family can forgive him, everybody else should be able to, too.”

Corwin can continue pressing for the GOP ballot line by primary vote, but technically it’s tougher because Cole’s nomination means GOP committeemen are supposed to carry his nominating petitions. Corwin’s campaign manager, Erie County GOP Executive Director Nick Langworthy, did not return calls for comment Thursday.

At this point, announced candidates for the seat include Cole, Corwin, Primary Challenge founder/business owner Leonard Roberto of Alden and Jeffrey Bono of Newstead. All are registered Republicans. To date, no Democrat has come forward to run.

Cole said he’s also pursuing the Conservative and Independence party lines in the race. He thinks his GOP win will help that cause.

“I’ve been saying all along that I’d be the (GOP) candidate, frankly, but I guess for some people it’s an unexpected thing,” he said. “The party bosses thought they had this wrapped up before we went into the convention, and when the pre-determined thing didn’t happen, I think that turned some heads.”

Tucker said he remains perplexed by Cole’s shows of confidence.

“That (convention) vote was hardly a mandate. He’d better be careful,” Tucker said. “His opponent, whether it’s another Republican or, maybe, a Democrat now, could go negative on him in a second, and it wouldn’t be pretty.”

Contact reporter Joyce Miles at 439-9222, ext. 6245.