Wilkes concedes in Saratoga Springs mayoral race

PHOTOGRAPHER: Lee Coleman

Democratic mayoral candidate Brent Wilkes conceded defeat to Mayor Scott Johnson today, saying that Johnson’s 225 vote lead in Tuesday’s election is too large, even with 400 absentee ballots yet to be counted.

Wilkes, 59, met with Johnson this morning to congratulate him on his apparent election to a third two-year term.

While some 400 or so absentee ballots remain to be counted, Wilkes would need to garner 80 percent of them to reverse Johnson’s current lead, a highly unlikely possibility, according to Patrick Kane, Wilkes’ campaign coordinator.

Kane said Wilkes was very pleased that two fellow Democrats defeated Republicans currently serving on the City Council. He referred to local dentist Chris Mathiesen defeating Public Safety Commissioner Richard Wirth and Michele Madigan defeating Finance Commissioner Kenneth Ivins.