Votes counted in Lewis; Lucas re-elected

LOWVILLE — Lewis County's legislative vice chairman easily fended off a challenge from a past county manager, continuing a strong showing by incumbent lawmakers.

Legislator Richard C. Lucas, R-Barnes Corners, defeated Independence Party candidate Joseph L. Baruth Sr. by an unofficial vote of 402-222. Mr. Lucas garnered 64 percent of the vote.

The fourth-year legislator said he was pleased with the victory and that most, if not all, of the Board of Legislators will stay the same. That should provide an opportunity to complete some ongoing projects, he said.

"We've got so many things going in the right direction," Mr. Lucas said.

Mr. Lucas on Tuesday night held a 231-68 lead in four of the district's five towns, but the largest — West Turin — could not be counted due to machine problems and a court impoundment order.

That order was lifted late Wednesday afternoon, and county election officials spent three hours hand-counting the ballots in that town's legislative race, along with legislative and supervisor races in New Bremen.

Mr. Lucas defeated Mr. Baruth, 87-57, in the Lyons Falls end of West Turin, while Mr. Baruth — who lives near Constableville — claimed the Constableville end, 97-84.

Legislator John O. Boyd, D-New Bremen, defeated Republican challenger Thomas J. Schantz by a 482-212 vote. Mr. Boyd, in his eighth year on the board, captured 69 percent of the vote.

Also in New Bremen, long-time Republican Supervisor Frederick J. Schneider defeated Democratic challenger Peter J. Keys by a vote of 441-238.

West Turin and New Bremen ballots still must be run through a ballot scanner to provide vote totals for all races.

A ballot scanner in Constableville had to be reset several times Tuesday due to jamming, with many voters directed to fill out emergency ballots when the machine was down, said county Democratic Election Commissioner Elaine McLear.

A machine in the other town of West Turin polling site in Lyons Falls and the one in New Bremen both worked properly but would not allow election workers to get a printout of results, Mrs. McLear said.

"It looks like it's a glitch in the programming," she said, noting that on-site testing seemed to rule out mechanical issues.

An exact cause will be determined through more extensive testing, Mrs. McLear said.

While the races tallied Wednesday weren't too close, absentee ballots could still impact several county races from Tuesday.

In legislative District 6, Legislator Joyce E. Hoch, R-Watson, holds a slim, 308-305 lead over Democratic challenger Paul M. Stanford. There were 76 absentee ballots issued and 32 are back at the Board of Elections office.

Also, in District 1, Legislator Philip C. Hathway, R-Harrisville, running solely on the Independence Party line, has a nearly insurmountable lead over Republican challenger Gary L. Williams by a 357-312 vote. There were 56 absentees, with 30 returned so far.

In Lyonsdale, Independent challenger Samuel A. Marmon leads Republican Supervisor Roscoe J. Fawcett Jr. by a 173-163 vote, while Democrat Matthew J. Farr leads a three-way highway superintendent race with 167 votes, followed by Theodore Mooney with 156. There were 18 absentees, with eight back.

In Leyden, Republican Councilman Verle E. Yelton earned one of two open council seats with 118 votes, followed by independent candidate Carol Lustyik with 88 and Republican Councilman Andrew J. Millick with 85. There were 17 absentees, with four back.

And, in Osceola, Democratic Councilman Francis N. Yerdon earned one of two open council seats with 67 votes, followed by Republican Keith Munz with 58 and Independence Party candidate Amy E. Kornberger with 57. There were seven absentees, with five back.

County election officials tentatively plan to begin counting absentee votes Nov. 12.