SARATOGA SPRINGS — Incumbent Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen, a Democrat, officially defended his seat after his opponent Richard Wirth, a Republican, conceded the race following the count of absentee ballots at the Board of Elections offices in Ballston Spa on Friday, November 15. Following Election Day, Mathiesen led by a total of 100 votes, but after absentee ballots were counted his lead was cut to 59 votes, which allowed him to secure victory over Wirth for the second time in two years. In 2011, Mathiesen defeated Wirth by a margin of 240 votes.