Five villages in Greene County and four in Columbia County held elections March 19, though there were many candidates running unopposed. In Athens, Republicans narrowly won several victories, while Catskill Democrats beat Republican by a considerable margin. In Athens, Republican incumbent Peter Alberti beat Democrat Trustee Stephan Bradicich by eight votes, with independent candidate Norman Benjamin Jr. far behind 218 to 210 to 24. The vote for village board was also close, with Republican Robert Scott, with 244 votes, and Republican incumbent Shannon Spinner, with 220 votes, winning seats over Democrats Joshua Lipsman, with 213 votes, and Amy Serrago, with 209 votes. In Catskill, Democrats Natasha L. Law, with 356 votes, and current Village President Vincent Seeley, with 355 votes, defeated Trustee Stanley Dushane and Daniel M. Shanley, who ran on the Republican and Constitution party lines. Incumbent Democrats won in Hunter, where David P. Kashman got 74 votes and Gregory L. Landers got 62 votes, over Clifton Thompson and John Palermo Sr., both running on the Right Choice Party line, received 49 and 22 votes, respectively. In Chatham, Peter Minahan, with 207 votes, and Jaimee Boehm, with 167 votes, defeated Jodie Russell, with 121 votes, for two-year terms as village trustee. Melony Spock, with 157 votes, defeated Joseph Cerami, with 109 votes, for a one-year term as trustee. In Philmont results were not immediately available for the two contested races there. Two people are running for mayor: incumbent Clarence V. Speed, of the People’s Party, is being challenged by Robin Andrews of the Citizens Party. Three people are running for two trustee seats. Incumbents Laurence Ostrander, of the Pine Tree Party, and Douglas C. Cropper, of the Village Party, are joined in the race by Heath Iverson, running on the Philmont’s Future Party line.