Plattsburgh, NY, Aug 12, 2009 — Plattsburgh attorney and former Air Force captain Bill Owens has won the Democratic Party nod in the race to fill John McHugh's House seat. Owens was a law partner to former Republican state Senator Ron Stafford and has described himself as a lifelong independent. He told Brian Mann that he is comfortable taking up the Democratic banner, though he differs with state Democratic officials on some issues, including same-sex marriage.