Patricia Doxsey is reporting for the Daily Freeman Democrat Pat Ryan defeated Ulster County Conservative Party Chairman Jack Hayes by a nearly 3-to-1 margin in the April 30, special election for county executive. On election night, with 97 percent of precincts reporting, Ryan led Hayes by a margin of 74 to 26 percent. "We had a pretty decisive result here, and I think that says a lot," Ryan said in his victory speech at Keegan Ales in Kingston. Ryan will take office 30 days after county election officials certify the results. He will serve through December 31. Ryan will then face Hayes again in the November general election to win a four-year term, beginning January 1. Voter turnout Tuesday was on the low side, totaling around 16,000. Ulster County had more than 118,000 registered voters as of Feb. 1, 2019, according to the state Board of Elections. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.