Malta supervisor race up to absentees

PHOTOGRAPHER: Stephen Williams

County voters made few changes on Tuesday, by and large re-electing incumbents to town offices. The Malta town supervisor’s race, however, was very close.

Malta Supervisor Paul Sausville, a three-term Republican incumbent, was leading Democrat Cynthia Young by 60 votes in a race that focused on their differences concerning downtown development. Sausville had 1,377 votes to 1,317 for Young, according to final but unofficial results filed with the county Board of Elections. But there are still 142 uncounted absentee ballots.

“I believe my margin will prevail after the absentees are counted,” Sausville said.

Current Malta Town Board members Peter Klotz and Tara Thomas, both Republicans, defeated Democratic challengers Ryan Gregoire and Carol Henry.

Malta voters also approved an unusual proposition that established the town appropriation for the Round Lake Library at $291,000, by a 1,578-829 tally.

In other towns:

Charlton

Republican Town Supervisor Alan R. Grattidge easily defeated former Supervisor Paul St. John running on the independent Broom party ballot line. Grattidge got 590 votes to 345 for St. John.

Halfmoon

Democratic challenger Deanna Stephenson was seen as the first realistic challenger to Republican incumbent Mindy Wormuth, but when the votes were counted it wasn’t close. Wormuth held off a tough challenge and cruised to victory by a wide margin.

Wormuth said voters liked her performance, which included no town or highway tax under her tenure. She added that Stephenson’s campaign didn’t necessarily resonate with voters.

“We’re very proud. We think we ran a very clean and well-fought campaign,” she said. “Certainly Mrs. Stephenson pointed out some changes and we’re always open to that kind of introspective work.”

Clifton Park

Incumbent Republican Philip Barrett easily held off Democratic challenger Marty O’Connor. Also enjoying the Republican voter enrollment advantage was incumbent Town Board member Scott Hughes and new member James Whalen.

When Barrett’s next term starts, he will likely be a full-time supervisor, as he will probably be taking over a town administrator role, too.

Milton

The Republicans retained control of the Town Board. Longtime Republican Board member Joe Miranda won easily, as did Republican newcomer Barbara Kerr. Winning unopposed after a tough primary race was Dan Lewza, also a Republican.

Ballston

Late Tuesday, independent incumbent Town Supervisor Patti Southworth had a narrow lead over Republican Pete Connors, but absentee ballots could swing the race. Additionally, Republican Board member Timothy Szczepaniak and Republican hopeful William Goslin had cemented victories over Democratic challenger Paul Simpson and Independent Bruce Hogan, both part of Southworth’s ticket.

Southworth said she felt pretty good about her position Tuesday night and thought she would still be leading once the absentee ballots were counted. Connors also did not believe he would catch Southworth, although he noted his margin of defeat was less than their last faceoff, in 2009.

Wilton

There were four candidates seeking two seats on the Wilton Town Board. John Lant, a Republican and a local fire chief, won one of the seats. Steven Streicher, a Republican, was leading Jared Dinsmore, an independent running on the Democratic line, by just 10 votes for the other seat. Charles Gerber, an incumbent running on the Conservative line, was trailing by nearly 1,000 votes with 93 percent of the votes counted.

Also in Wilton, longtime town Justice John J. Wood, running on the Democratic party line with 904 votes, was defeated easily by retired Sheriff’s Department Investigator David R. Towne, who ran on the Republican, Conservative and Independence party lines and drew an unofficial 1,829 votes.

Saratoga

Highway Superintendent David H. Hall was defeated by Donald Ormsby 628-420 with all votes counted.

Corinth

Town Clerk Rose Farr appeared to have won another term, defeating former Deputy Town Clerk Cheri Sullivan by more than 300 votes, according to partial returns.

Moreau

For Town Board, Gina LeClair and Robert Vittengl Jr., running on the Democratic line, appeared to have defeated Republicans Andre Delvaux and Elizabeth Lanfear by a slim margin, according to partial returns.

Waterford

Town Board members Elizabeth Callaghan and David Ball, both Republicans, withstood a challenge from Democrat Joanne N. Hynes. Town Justice Nancy Sunukjian beat back a challenge from Marc H. Goldberg.

Elsewhere in Saratoga County, incumbents were generally running for re-election without opposition.