Jim Planck is reporting in The Daily Mail in a close election, Republican Rick Surrano appears to have defeated Democrat Chris Pfister in the Athens village mayor race, 256 to 243. Surrano's GOP running mates, political newcomers Maria Butler and Richard Gabrielle, prevailed in the trustee race as well, unseating Democrat incumbents Robert June and Anthony Patsky. The election may not be decided until Thu., Mar. 19, when absentee ballots are counted by the Greene County Board of Elections. Running as an independent, Surrano was narrowly defeated in the trustee race two years ago. His father, Rick Surrano Sr., served as mayor and trustee in the 1990s. Ryan Anglim is reporting the GOP won the three-way race Catskill. Political newcomer Heather Bagshaw and incumbent James Chewens will now serve on the Catskill Village Board of Trustees. An unknown number of absentee ballots remain to be counted in that race, as well. And in a very close Coxsackie election, Melanie Lekocevic is reporting incumbent Republican Mayor Mark Evans is leading Democrat challenger Greg Backus by 13 votes. Incumbent Republican trustees Paul Sutton and Stephen Hanse are leading Democrat challenger Donald Daoust by nine votes. The 40 absentee ballots will determine the election. The final results are not expected for a few days.