Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media as of early Wed., Mar. 17, the four candidates for Catskill Village trustee were within 71 votes of each other, with 210 absentee ballots to be counted. Republican incumbents Peter Grasse III and Gregory Smith were in the lead with 324 and 296 votes, respectively. Democratic newcomers Mercedes Brantley and Andy Gonzalez followed with 265 and 253 votes, respectively. The count is expected to be completed before the end of the week, Greene County Election Commissioner Brent Bogardus said. “Conceivably, it could [change the outcome],” Bogardus said, referring to the absentee ballot count. “You never know until you open the ballots. Both sides worked pretty hard to get absentee ballots. My guess is it will be about 50/50, but that’s just a guess.” Smith agreed it was too soon to declare the winners, but Grasse did not believe the outcome of the election would change. Brantley said she had a great experience running for office and Gonzalez said he plans to continue to be active in the community. In other races: in the village of Chatham, John Howe was elected mayor and Jaimee Boehme and Peter Minahan were elected trustees. In the village of Kinderhook, James Mark Browne and David Flaherty were elected trustees. In the village of Philmont, Brian Johnson is the new mayor, while Jason Detzel and Larry Ostrander were elected trustees. In the village of Valatie, Frank Bevens is the new mayor, while Larry Eleby and Sean Casey were elected trustees. In the village of Athens, Amy Serrago is the new mayor and Joshua Lipsman and Nancy Poylo are the likely winners of the trustee race, pending the counting of absentee and write-in ballots. In the village of Coxsackie, incumbent mayor Mark Evans was re-elected and Donald Daoust and Stephen Hanse were elected trustees. In the village of Tannersville, Lee McGunnigle was re-elected mayor and David Kashman and Greg Landerswere elected trustees. Note: All election results are pending absentee ballots and official certification by county and state boards of election. Read more at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.