Dunster-Wesley concedes race for Scotia village board

PHOTOGRAPHER: Ned Campbell

The vote for a seat on the Scotia Village Board of Trustees officially remains undecided, but the trailing candidate isn’t contesting the results.

“Why would I?” asked Jill Dunster-Wesley. “There are still some ballots out, but I think it was fairly done.”

After absentee and affidavit ballots were counted Wednesday, Dunster-Wesley was 30 votes behind Keven Mathes, out of 2,224 votes cast. Mathes’ lead had grown from 21 votes after the Nov. 4 election. The final results were being held up by 38 objections in the Schenectady County Court judge’s race.

Dunster-Wesley, a Republican, said she was glad to see a fellow Republican win a seat on the otherwise all-Democratic board. Dunster-Wesley, a dispatcher for the state Thruway Authority and political newcomer, said she plans to run again in two years.

“I’m glad we got our foot in the door,” she said.

Democratic Mayor Kris Kastberg said he looks forward to working with Mathes and his employee paperwork is already being completed. He said Mathes, a vice president for KeyBank, brings valuable financial background to the board.

Mathes, 38, was also a student of Kastberg’s when he taught technology at Scotia-Glenville High School, something Mathes had to remind the mayor of when they spoke the day after the election.

“Regardless of political party, we’ve had mixed boards before, and basically it’s just about doing the best thing for the community,” Kastberg said, “so I think he’s going to do a great job.”