With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Cazenovia voters apparently approved two ballot propositions in last night’s vote, saying a definite yes to changing the town supervisor term of office from two years to four years, and a likely yes to changing the town clerk from an elected position to an appointed one. The town clerk proposition approval, however, only passed by 35 votes at the ballot box, and there are 61 absentee ballots waiting to be counted by the county board of elections, and 23 more absentee ballots that can still be received by Monday, Nov. 11.
According to BOE figures, 1,222 ballots were cast in the election.
Proposition 1 on the supervisor term of office passed handily with 758 votes to approve and 426 to reject. Proposition 2 on the town clerk’s position passed by a relatively narrow margin of 35 votes, with 608 voting yes and 573 voting no.
Initial figures reported by the Madison County Board of Elections Tuesday night showed the town clerk proposition on its way to rejection by a no vote of 326 to 308. Returns from Districts 2, 3, and 6 came in late — after 11 p.m. — however, and once those ballots were counted the proposition’s numbers had flipped the other way.
“I really wanted the clerk proposition to pass because it’s the face of the town and the job entails huge responsibilities. You can’t just walk in and do the job. Connie [Sunderman] is excellent, and we want to keep her as long as she’s willing,” said supervisor-elect Bill Zupan on the town clerk proposition. Zupan, a current town councilor, cruised to an uncontested victory last night with 860 votes. There were also 14 write-in votes.
Sunderman, the current deputy town clerk, was elected in an uncontested race to become the town clerk. She received 929 votes. There was also two write-in votes.
Also in the Cazenovia election, Town Justice Fred G. Palmer III was reelected with 932 votes, and current town councilors Kristi Andersen and Pat Race both won reelection to office in uncontested races. Andersen received 707 votes; Race received 843 votes; and there were four write-in votes.
Once Zupan is sworn in to office in January, he must resign his town council seat. The board will then appoint someone to take his seat for the remainder of his term.
Nelson town elections
In the town of Nelson, a slate of uncontested candidates also were elected, including five incumbents and one political first-timer. Supervisor Roger Bradstreet received 273 votes and faced 10 write-in ballots; Town Clerk Deborah Costello received 317 votes; Town Highway Superintendent Jack Sevier received 304 votes; Town Justice Patrick J. O’Sullivan received 298 votes; town Councilor Mike Costello received 279 votes; and newcomer Jen Marti received 244 votes in her first bid for town board. There were also 13 write-in votes for town council.
According to BOE figures, 378 ballots were cast in the Nelson town elections.
“I’m very excited to have been given the opportunity to contribute to my community,” Marti said. “Trying to fill the shoes of Dean Coe, who has served the town of Nelson for 20 years, is going to be a challenge, but I am looking forward to it; I hope he leaves me his cell number.”
Bradstreet said he was “proud and grateful to serve with all the incumbents ‘newbie’ Council Member Jen Marti for two more years of progress in Nelson. While we have many priorities in Nelson, to grow our business and residential base on the Route 20 corridor and Erieville Hamlet are on top of my list. I know I have the support of all the dedicated officials in Nelson to make this happen.”
Bradstreet also wanted to recognize retiring Councilman Dean Coe after 40 years of service – 20 on the town board and 20 on the town zoning board of appeals.
“Thank you Dean for years of service, most recently as liaison for building and grounds, responsible for our two beautiful parks, grounds and most recent installation of the security system at the town office. You still owe your constituents two more months, after which we wish you and Patty a long deserved retirement,” Bradstreet said.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia republican. He can be reached at [email protected].
