Just one vote separates the top vote-getters for the second Independence line on the ballot for Colonie town justice.
The results from the Tuesday, Sept. 15 primary, though still unofficial, show Democrat Stanley Segal in the lead with 147 votes. Behind him are Republican Andrew Sommers with 105 votes, Democrat Frederick Altman with 104 votes, and Republican Norman Massry with 91 votes. Primary voters could choose two candidates out of four in the primary election, to run on the Independence Party lines in November.
A recount was held Friday, Sept. 18 at Memorial Town Hall, but results are still 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, 10 have been returned as of Thursday, Sept. 17.
Absentee ballots will not be opened until Wednesday, Sept. 23, after The Spotlight goes to print.
On Tuesday, there was a glitch with some of the ballots, Graziano said. Particularly, the ballots that were voted on using the electronic machines, which asked that voters choose one candidate instead of two for the Independence lines. Graziano said the situation was corrected immediately.
On Wednesday, Sept. 16, Albany County Independence Party Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the state Independence Party Paul Caputo said he was pleased 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 which other candidate would walk away with the Independence line.
`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 participate 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. This was the first time he sought Independence Party support.
Results from the absentee ballots were released after The Spotlight went to print. For more information on the results, check back at www.spotlightnews.com.
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