COLONIE–Just one vote is currently the difference between the second winner of the Independence line on ballots for the November general election after the Colonie Town Justice primary that was held on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
The results, though still unofficial, came in late Tuesday, showing Democrat Stanley Segal in the lead with 146 votes. Behind him were Republican Andrew Sommers with 105 votes, Frederick Altman with 104 votes and Norman Massry with 86 votes. Voters could choose two candidates out of four in the primary election, while two will be elected, ultimately, to fill the two open seats in November.
A recount will be completed on Friday, Sept. 18 at Memorial Town Hall, after which point results will still be unofficial until all absentee ballots have come in. According to Albany County Board of Elections Commissioner John Graziano, of the 20 absentee ballots that were sent out, ten have been returned as of Thursday, Sept. 17.
Absentee ballots will not be opened until Wednesday, Sept. 23, after The Spotlight goes to print, Graziano said, because the Board of Elections must wait seven days after the primary to open them.
On Tuesday, there was a glitch in some of the ballots, Graziano said. Particularly, the ballots that were voted on using the electronic machines asked that voters choose one candidate instead of two for the Independence line. Graziano said this situation was corrected immediately though.
When asked whether the recount would likely have a great effect on the results, Graziano said, If it goes to trend it will be very, very close again. Graziano said the results of the absentee ballots will most likely change the results of the election more than the recount.
On Wednesday, Sept. 16, Albany County Independence Party Chairman and Vice-Chair of the state Independence Party Paul Caputo said the party was pleased that so many people came out to participate in the election.
`We had a great turnout, and again, that’s why we have primaries,` he said. `A lot of people dislike primaries, but primaries are a great way to take a temperature of your membership.`
In June, the Independence Party endorsed Segal and Massry, however, the other candidates received enough petition signatures to force a primary. Wednesday, Caputo said the party was `obviously overjoyed about Stan Segal winning,` but that it is still too close to call on which other candidate would walk away with the Independence line.
Regardless of who it is, Caputo said the party would welcome them with open arms.
`Whomever that winner ultimately is, he’s our candidate and we’re happy to have him and we’re certainly happy about the turnout in Colonie,` he said.
Colonie Democratic Committee Chairman Rich Jacobson said the party is happy for Segal, but hopeful for Altman.
`We were very happy with the results of Tuesday’s election and the win of Stanley Segal for the Independence Party designation for the general election,` he said. `We are also hopeful that the one vote deficit that we currently have on the machines for Fred Altman will be turned.`
Altman said he will be paying close attention to the recount after the glitch on Tuesday with the electronic machines, as well as the absentee ballots.
`The only thing I don’t know for sure is how many people, if any, may have voted improperly,` he said.
No matter what the results indicate, Altman said he feels he put forth a great deal of effort, and that after the results are in, he will concentrate his efforts on the general election in November. While only two candidates will be able to represent the Independence Party on ballots, all four will face each other in the general election.
Newly elected Colonie Republican Committee Chairman John Graziano Jr. said he did not want to comment on the primary results because he did not want to interfere with another party.
Sommers spoke on behalf of himself, saying he is confident that he will not only get the amount of votes needed to represent the Independence Party in November, but that he will be one of the two Town Justices elected as a result of the general election.
`Right now, I’m one vote ahead and I expect to have the line in the Fall and I have confidence that I’m going to come out on top,` he said. `I expect to get the votes in November.`
Sommers, the only incumbent running, credits his experience during his first term as what he believes will lead him to success.
For more on this story, check back at www.spotlightnews.com, or read the Wednesday, Sept. 23 print edition of the Colonie Spotlight.
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