Absentee ballots counted: It’s King
Clear says ‘horrendous’ challenges await mayorBy ZACH SUBAR, The Leader-Herald
Article Photos
JOHNSTOWN - No Fulton County election results changed as absentee ballots were counted in the closest races, according to Board of Elections officials.
Republican Dayton King, who ran as an independent, will be Gloversville's next mayor. The final vote totals show he received 1,003 votes, while his closest competitor, Republican Jo-Ann Clear, received 949.
Democrat Judy Marcoux finished with 575 votes and Conservative Dirk Myers received 198.
King said he was not ready to declare himself mayor until the final votes were tallied.
"My mother had knots in her stomach," he confessed.
Now, he said, he is ready to get to work. He has set up several meetings with Assemblyman Marc Butler, R-Newport, and will work to be ready for the beginning of his term Jan 1.
"I think the job, as a leader, is to articulate the citizens' vision, and that's really what I want to get a good handle on," King said. He will spend time before he takes office getting a sense of what city residents want, he said.
Meanwhile, Clear said she is not disappointed at losing the election.
"I have felt a huge sense of personal relief," she said, adding that she was surprised at her own reaction.
She will not, for example, be tasked with managing the city's bleak financial situation, and she will not need to figure out how to balance the city's budget.
"I just think that the incoming mayor has a horrendous job ahead of him, and I think the current council has a horrendous task right now," she said.
Meanwhile, incumbent Republican Northampton Supervisor Linda Kemper has received another four-year term-she maintained a slim lead over Republican Northville Mayor James Groff, receiving 448 votes to Groff's 437. Incumbent Republican Councilman Guy Poulin received 17 votes.
Broadalbin Republican Councilman Joe DiGiacomo defeated Republican George Walters, 612-597.
Board of Elections official Theresa Dugan cautioned the results are not yet official, and they will not be considered so until all the absentee ballots across the county are tallied. But no last-minute changes are expected.
"We're not really anticipating any changes in those numbers," Dugan said.
In Montgomery County, one race remains too close to call. That race is in Palatine, where Republican Brian Sweet maintains a 3-vote lead over Democrat Donald Mead Jr. in the race for supervisor after absentee ballots were counted.
There still are seven outstanding military ballots in the town, and county Democratic Elections Commissioner Jamie Duchessi said those would be valid if they were postmarked no later than Nov. 2 and received by Tuesday.
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dogman12
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11-15-09 3:54 PM
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good for Joe - hey did wako joy win
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westielover
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11-15-09 10:09 AM
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I think the "good old girl" network would be better.
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laker88
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11-15-09 8:34 AM
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If the number of people who voted matched the number of people who whine, complain and do nothing, not even vote, there would be quite a line at the polls. As others have said, it will be thankless...good luck Dayton!
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fultoncountyfan
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11-14-09 10:13 PM
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WAY TO GO JOE I WOULD HAVE LIKE TO SEE GROFF WIN ALSO BUT LINDA DID ALOT OF HARD WORK
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GoGreen
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11-14-09 4:56 PM
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Way to go Republicans. Congrats and good luck to King, he has a mess to clean up - and King, don't worry if things don't go right off the get go, say 3 months, 6 months, 11 months, into office, just blame it on Hughes just like everyone blames it on Bush.
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ADKMTNMAN
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11-14-09 4:11 PM
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Is it pitiful that only 25% of the registered voters made it to the poles. How many more were eligible to register and neglected to do even that? Voter apathy is a huge problem nation wide but poor turn out does not negate an election. Congratulations to all the winners.
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Hilltopper
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11-14-09 2:07 PM
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25% of the eligible voters in Gloversville went to the polls. Of those, less than 37% voted for King. And now for a really important vote in Gloversville, Bud Light or Miller Lite ? Whopper or Big Mac ? Walmart in Amsterdam or Walmart just outside of Gloversville ?
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Patriot1
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11-14-09 1:42 PM
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On the money, Adirondackal - some of the more virulent aspects of "upstate provincialism" can now be dampened and minimized. The "old-boy-circuit will still struggle to maintain some of its power and perks, but the times, "they are a'changin"!
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Dirtracefan
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11-14-09 11:13 AM
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Congratulations Mr. King. You now have the most unpopular, thankless, low paying job in NEW YORK STATE. I wish you good luck and I hope you can make some of the most important decisions in the City of Gloversville's history. You have four years to repair all the damage that has been inflicted on your residents and now you must take the bull by the horns and make the hardest decisions of any Mayor in history, most of these decisions will be very unpopular, and you must stand your ground, and don't listen to certain individuals that have taking your fine city to the brink of INSOLVENCY.
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Discobulous
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11-14-09 10:38 AM
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After having made an in-depth study of all these close rces, I can declare with much confidence that the reason some lost was because not enough people voted for them. But as far as good old boy networks go, if one disintegrates, it is never long before the next one starts to form. It is the unwriten law of the pack.
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Adirondackal
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11-14-09 9:29 AM
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The County Treasurer's race and the Broadalbin and Northampton supervisor's races clearly show that the "good old boy" network in our county is almost finished. That is good news for every citizen of every stripe.
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Knickman
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11-14-09 8:55 AM
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The Broadalbin race was really a 1 issue campaign. Sole or 3 elected assessors. If I recall correctly, this the last town with 3. If it ends up all sole assessors, I think the people should seriously consider countywide again. This would be more consistant and efficient. But I do know that there are those who feel that if the assessor is a stranger, that there assessment will go up and that may have to start paying their fair share. Also probably a factor in Broadalbin was the age factor. If you were 18 to 50 years of age, you voted for the younger Di Giacomo. If you were over 55, you voted for Walters. And those between 50 to 55 probably split down the middle. That had to give JG the advantage.
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Commonsense
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11-14-09 8:40 AM
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So much for "I know I'm going to win". Congrats Joe.
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ADKMTNMAN
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11-14-09 7:26 AM
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Congratulations Dayton! Now that the easy part is over (getting elected) the real work begins. Best of luck Mayor Elect!
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maxone
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11-14-09 7:13 AM
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the bully got defeated ! congrats to Joe D. !! he is what B'albin needs . make us proud Joe .
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