By Doug La Rocque
In an election contest that is technically too close to call pending the counting of absentee ballots and the six votes cast via affidavit ballots, [private]Republican Councilwoman Ingrid Gundrum appears to be the voters’ choice to be Grafton’s next Town Supervisor. Gundrum received 357 votes while current Supervisor Frank Higgins garnered 331. As of election night, the number of absentee ballots is unknown and the date to count these ballots has not yet been set by the Rensselaer County Board of Elections.
Gundrum expressed her thanks to all the voters and said she is really looking forward to her apparent new job. One of her first priorities “is to repair the relationship between the Town Clerk’s Office and the Supervisor.” When first nominated by the Republican Party, Gundrum said “it’s time to feel good about Grafton again,” and repeated that mantra on election night. The Eastwick Press was unable to reach Supervisor Higgins for comment.
Third Time Is The Charm
Gundrum will have a new Town Board and Town Clerk to work with. Republican candidate Lisa Dooley led the four person field for the two open Board seats. Dooley garnered 382 votes.
Democrat Eric Buckley, who lost out in his quest for a Town Board seat in each of the last two years, claimed that seat this year with a vote total of 358. Republican Jarod Bouchard failed to gain enough votes in his first attempt at public office, finishing third with 330 votes. Two-term incumbent councilwoman, Democrat Barbara Messenger was unable to retain her board seat – 287 votes were cast for her. Following the election, Messenger said the voters have spoken and added “it has been a pleasure to serve our Town for over 25 years.
If Gundrum’s margin of victory holds up, her current
Board seat will become open on January 1, 2016. The new Board will then have the option of appointing someone to fill that seat pending a special election next November, or simply leaving the seat vacant until that election. As of January 1, the Board will be made up of two Republicans and one Democrat, with Gundrum being the third Republican.
Current Town Clerk Sue Putnam did not seek re-election, and will be replaced by Democrat Kathy Mason-Wagar, the current Grafton Court Clerk. Mason-Wagar defeated Republican newcomer Jessica Crandall by a margin of 361 to 322. Longtime Republican Highway Superintendent Herb Hasbrouck and Democratic Tax Collector Mary Gentner ran unopposed.
After the votes were counted, Republican Committee Chairman Chris Meyer said he felt the current controversy over recent assessment changes played a role in the outcome of the election.
There were two other races on the ballot in Grafton. In the State Supreme Court race, Grafton voters chose Republican Norm Massery over Democrat Christina Ryba, 348 to 279. Current Rensselaer County Under Sheriff Pat Russo was unopposed for the County Sheriff’s position. In all, there were 701 ballots cast, which makes up just about 50% of the total registered voters in the town. All positions contested were four year terms.[/private]