Rosa Acheson is reporting in the Register-Star once all the votes are counted, Republican Philip Bickerton was expected to defeat Democrat Matthew Nelson for a seat on the Kinderhook Town Board, according to unofficial Columbia County Board of Election results. Bickerton led Nelson by 600 votes late Tuesday night. Town Supervisor Pat Grattan said 3,000 absentee ballots were issued. Bickerton said he looks forward to taking on his new position. “There is so much to say. I’m glad the fight is over and now the work begins,” he said. Bickerton said he was especially grateful for the community support and voter turnout. Bickerton will fill the seat formerly held by Deb Simonsmeier, who died in April. Karrie Allen is reporting in the Register-Star, in Chatham, John Wapner was re-elected to serve the remainder of the unexpired four-year term on the Town Board. Wapner, who ran on the Democratic and Chatham Citizens’ Party lines, bested Republican Jody Nesbitt, 1,088 to 935, with approximately 100 absentee ballots left to be counted. Wapner thanked everyone who voted for him, as well as those who worked on his campaign. “I had a great support team,” he said. Wapner was appointed to the board in January to fill the seat left vacant after Maria Lull was elected Town Supervisor last year. Read both stories in the Register-Star.