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Sunday, 29 November -0001 19:03

A New 3-2: Democrats Gain Majority of Saratoga Springs City Council

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SARATOGA SPRINGS - By capturing two out of the three contested city elections, Democrats will have a majority of the seats (3-2) on the next Saratoga Springs City Council which will be sworn into office next January 1. This will put the Democrats in the majority of the council for the first time since Valerie Keehn was elected mayor of the city in 2006.


There are approximately 367 absentee ballots that need to be counted to make these results official, but it is statistically unlikely that the results will change.


With 100 percent of the districts reporting, the results of the city elections are:
- In the Finance Commissioner race, Democratic challenger Michele Madigan unseated two-term Republican incumbent Kenneth Ivins, Jr. by a 52-48 percent margin. Ms. Madigan received 3,231 votes, Mr. Ivins 2,944.


- Joining Ms. Madigan at the council table for the first time is fellow Democrat Christian E. Mathiesen, who won the race for Commissioner of Public Safety. Mr. Mathiesen unseated Republican incumbent Richard C. Wirth by a 53-47 percent margin. Mr. Mathiesen received 3,208 votes, Mr. Wirth 2,891.


- Incumbent Republican Mayor Scott T. Johnson was returned to office for a third two-year term. Mayor Johnson defeated Democratic challenger Brent A. Wilkes by a 52-48 percent margin. Mayor Johnson received 3,304 votes, Mr. Wilkes 3,078.


- Joining the two new council members and returning mayor are Democratic Commissioner of Accounts John P. Franck and Republican Commissioner of Public Works Anthony “Skip” Scirocco. Both are incumbents who ran unopposed.


- Also running unopposed were the city’s two incumbent representatives on the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors: Democratic Supervisor Joanne D. Yepsen and Republican Matthew E. Veitch.


Before the new council takes office, current council members will be responsible for passing the 2012 budget on or before November 30.


Other area race results of local interest include:

NEW YORK STATE
SUPREME COURT –
4th JUDICIAL DISTRICT
- With 86 percent of precincts reporting from the 4th Judicial District’s 11-county area, Republican newcomers Ann C. Crowell and Robert J. Chauvin appear likely to be joining Republican incumbent John A. Lahtinen on the bench.

TOWN OF BALLSTON
All 9 districts reporting:
- Incumbent Democratic Supervisor Patti Southworth was returned to office over Democratic challenger Peter J. Connors by a 52-48 percent margin. Ms. Southworth received 1,220 votes, Mr. Connors 1,134.
- In the race for Town Clerk, Republican Carol R. Shemo defeated Democrat Robert Ogle by a 61-39 percent margin. Ms. Shemo received 1,354 votes, Mr. Ogle 867.
- In the Town Council race, where the top two finishers will be seated, incumbent Republican Timothy J. Szczepaniak will be joined by fellow Republican William A. Goslin. Mr Szczepaniak received 1,299 votes, Mr. Goslin 1,285. Democratic challengers Paul Simpson and Bruce Hogan received 1,025 and 988 votes, respectively.
- Tax Collector Anne C. Hogue was unopposed.

TOWN OF MALTA
All 12 districts reporting:
- In the Supervisor’s race, incumbent Republican Paul J. Sausville was returned to office over Democratic challenger Cynthia C. Young by a 51-49 percent margin. Mr. Sausville received 1,377 votes, Ms. Young 1,317.
- In the Town Council race, top two finishers Republican incumbents Peter S. Klotz and Tara Thomas were both returned to office. Mr. Klotz received 1,430 votes, Ms. Thomas 1,348. Democratic challengers Ryan M. Gregoire and Carol P. Henry received 1,157 and 1,124 votes, respectively.
- The town passed its Library Proposition Number One, establishing an annual budgetary contribution of $ 291,000 by the Town of Malta to the Round Lake Library, by a wide (66-34 percent) margin.
- Town Clerk Florence Sickels, Town Justice James R. Nichols, Highway Superintendent Roger Crandall and Tax Collector Lynda Bablin were all unopposed.

TOWN OF MILTON 
All 14 districts reporting:
- In the Town Council race, where the top two finishers will be seated, Republican Barbara A. Kerr will join incumbent Republican Joseph J. Miranda, Jr. Ms. Kerr received 1,766 votes, Mr. Miranda 1,710. Hometown party challenger Benny L. Zlotnick, Jr. received 784 votes, Democratic challenger Shawn Raymond received 633.
- Incumbent Republican Town Clerk William Mevec defeated Democratic challenger Meg Stevens by a 59-41 percent margin. Mr. Mevec received 1,481 votes, Ms. Stevens 1,034.
- Supervisor Daniel P. Lewza, Town Justice Thomas L. Schroeder, Highway Superintendent David C. Forbes and Tax Collector Sharon A. Sommer were all unopposed. 

TOWN OF WILTON
All 15 districts reporting:
- After succeeding in obtaining the Republican Party endorsement for Town Justice from his opponent, challenger David R. Towne handily defeated incumbent John J. Wood by a 68-32 percent margin. Mr. Wood ran on the Democratic Party line in the general election. Mr. Towne received 1,971 votes, Mr. Wood 946.
- In the Town Council race, where the top two finishers will be seated, Republican John J. Lant garnered 40 percent (2,256) of the total vote, while the second seat awaits the results of absentee ballots, as Democrat Jared K. Dinsmore (1,460 votes) and Steven C. Streicher (1,459) were separated by only one vote after all 15 districts reported their results. Incumbent Conservative Charles A. Gerber was not returned to office. He received 433 votes.
- Town Supervisor Arthur J. Johnson, Town Clerk Carol D. Maynard and Highway Superintendent Kirklin D. Woodcock were all unopposed.

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