Jim Planck in The Daily Mail reports that election canvassing to determine winners in local elections begins this weekend. Columbia County will begin a total count of all votes, absentee and otherwise, Friday, Nov. 18, and Greene County follows suit on Tuesday, Nov. 22, per a court ordered recount for a New York state Supreme Court 3rd Judge race. That office represents seven counties, including Columbia and Greene, and so the many close races that may be determined by absentee ballots have to follow the schedule. Planck cites the following local races that may still be undecided:
• Prattsville, write-in candidate Alan Huggins leads 155 to incumbent Democrat Kory O’Hara’s 140.
• Lexington, Democrat incumbent Lynn Byrne and Republican William Pushman are tied with 157 votes for the second council seat.
• Hunter, Democrat David Kukle leads with 419, over Republican and Common Sense candidate Paul Solodar, with 405 for the second council seat.
• Coxsackie, Republican Rick Hanse has 800 votes, while Democrat incumbent Donald Daoust has 790.
• Halcott, write-in Pete Ballard may affect the outcome, Planck hints.
• Hudson, for Mayor, Republican William Hallenbeck has 760 votes, versus Democrat Nick Haddad with 733, with perhaps 200 absentees ballots.
• Greenport, for Town Supervisor, Republican and Conservative John J. Porreca, Sr. leads 590 to Democrat and Independence incumbent Edward F. Nabozny's 584.
• New Lebanon, the Town Justice so far is Democrat, Conservative, and Independence candidate Darcy L. Poppy with 350 votes, to Republican Jack Nevers' 348.
Read the full story in The Daily Mail.