Patricia Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman that Dutchess County Comptroller James Coughlan conceded defeat Dec. 1 to Democratic challenger Robin Lois. An ongoing absentee ballot recount had Lois leading by 660 votes, with only a handful of paper ballots remaining uncounted. After election day, Nov. 7, Lois led by 412 votes, 31,620 to 31,208. Lois said Coughlan called her and “graciously pledged to assist me during this transition.” Lois will begin a four-year term Jan. 1. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.