Madison County
Magee: 8,775
Salka: 8,574
20 write-in votes
Otsego County
Magee: 5,543
Salka: 4,103
16 write-in votes
Oneida County
Magee: 1,806
Salka: 2,053
Write-in votes: 11
Twelve-term state assemblyman Bill Magee has declared victory in his election race against challenger John Salka in the 121st district – but the margin is so slim, and with more than 1,000 absentee ballots still to be counted, Salka is not conceding the race.
“We took Oneida County by a pretty good number, and there’s a bunch of absentee ballots out there. We’re not ready to concede yet,” Salka said from his election night headquarters at The Colgate Inn in Hamilton at about 11 p.m.
At 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, Salka said he and his advisors have decided to continue to hold off on any declaration of victory or defeat until the final vote tallies are official.
“Mr. Magee has declared victory and that’s fine, all due respect to him. But we owe it to our constituents to make sure this was won by all the necessary requirements … it’s just important to cover all our bases.”
State board of elections unofficial results give Magee 16,124, or 50.24 percent, of the vote, and give Salka 14,730, or 45.89 percent, of the vote. There were also 1,171 blank ballots and 47 write-in votes.
Magee, who waited for results with supporters in The Lincklaen House in Cazenovia, declared victory late Tuesday night. His communications director, Laura Martino, said Magee feels “comfortable” that he has won reelection to a 13th term in the state assembly.
“There’s not enough absentee ballots out there, even if Mr. Salka gets them all, to win. At this time we’re feeling good with what we’ve got,” Martino said.
Salka said Tuesday night he would make a further determination Wednesday morning after the numbers are more solid, and if the final difference is within 2 percent there will be an automatic recount.
“Regardless of the results, I’m very, very proud of what we’ve done,” Salka said. “We waged the best campaign, stuck to the issues … I’m confident that regardless of what happens we’ve done our job.”
Salka said Wednesday morning that if the assembly race does not turn out in his favor, he will run for reelection as Brookfield town supervisor in November 2015, and he also has the “full intention” of running for the state assembly again in the future.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].
