Absentee ballots don’t flip any races in Jefferson, Lewis counties

Nov. 16--Despite several close election races in Jefferson and Lewis counties, a tally Wednesday of absentee ballots didn't bring any changes from election night.

In Jefferson County, Clayton Republican Robert W. Cantwell III maintained his victory over Cape Vincent Democrat Hugh "Joe" Hughes in the Jefferson County Legislature District 1 race.

District 1 covers the towns of Cape Vincent and Clayton. Following the counting of absentee ballots by the Jefferson County Board of Elections Wednesday, Mr. Cantwell, 47, had 100 absentee votes while Mr. Hughes garnered 104 votes. This is in addition the general election tally, which saw Mr. Cantwell win 996-904. Absentees included, the final count is 1,096 to 1,008 for Mr. Cantwell.

Mr. Cantwell, who owns his insurance business -- Cantwell & Associates -- in Clayton, will replace County Legislator Michael J. Docteur, who is stepping down from the board at the end of the year to focus on other pursuits.

Now that his win is officially secure, Mr. Cantwell said he is looking forward to attending Legislature meetings.

"Right now, I'm the new kid on the block," he said. "I just want to listen and learn and do my part."

On Tuesday night, the Jefferson County Legislature passed its 2018 budget, which includes modest increases in spending and the property tax levy. Mr. Cantwell said he wants to help maintain the board's efforts to keep expenses in check and decrease reliance on fund balance.

"Any time you can stabilize the tax rate, that's a good thing," he said.

LEWIS COUNTY

Absentee and affidavit votes did not change the outcome of any Lewis County races, including one for legislative District 1.

According to unofficial results from the Lewis County Board of Elections, Croghan Town Councilman John V. Lehman, running on Republican, Conservative and independent lines, defeated Democratic Diana Town Councilman Ricky L. Taylor by 21 votes, 306-285. Mr. Lehman led by 18 votes on election night Nov. 7 and extended his lead by winning the battle of absentee and affidavit ballots, 28-25.

He will replace Legislator Philip C. Hathway, R-Harrisville, who decided not to run for re-election, and the Croghan Town Council will likely need to appoint a replacement for him for 2018.

"I just want to thank all the people in Harrisville, Diana and the town of Croghan for supporting me," Mr. Lehman, also an operator at the Carthage-West Carthage Water Pollution Control Facility, said by phone. "I'll do the best I can for everybody."

Mr. Lehman said county legislators over the past three or four years have "done a fantastic job" working together to move the county forward. "I'd like to continue some of that work," he said.

The legislator-elect thanked those who helped with his campaign, particularly Angelina Fowler for taking him around the district for door-to-door visits. "She was fantastic," he said.

Mr. Taylor, who attended the absentee count, said he was OK with the results.

"I gave it my best shot," he said.

However, the Diana councilman said he was disappointed that only 35 percent of registered voters in the district cast ballots in the election.

In other close town races, independent candidate Ginny Churchill defeated Republican/independent candidate Mallory Sullivan Douglas, 77-68, in the race for Osceola town clerk after leading by only two votes on election night.

And, in the West Turin highway superintendent race, independent candidate Douglas S. Salmon defeated Republican Robert Greene, 274-263. Mr. Greene won the absentee and affidavit battle, 12-9, but didn't get enough votes to overcome a 14-vote deficit from election night.

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