Essex Election Results

Supervisor Ed Gardner speaking at the 2015 Election Forum at the Whallonsburg Grange Hall. (Credit: virtualdavis)

Good evening, neighbors. After weeks of enthusiastic, inspiring campaigning by the candidates, the voters have made their choices. Hopefully you voted yesterday, and by now you’re wondering about our Essex election results. The good news is that I can pass along semi-official numbers as posted in The Sun Community News. But the nail-biter news is that absentee ballots will not be counted and announced for more than a week, and the margin is close enough in a couple of elections to warrant waiting on declaring winners.

“Voters headed to the polls across the North Country today to cast their ballots for local offices. Results started coming in shortly after polls closed on Tuesday… Supervisor Ed Gardner fended off a challenge from Sharon Boisen 160-108, with 51 absentee ballots yet to be counted. For the two available town council seats: James LaForest (110), Jay White (103), Jonathan Pribble (95), Thomas Stransky (64) and 95 write-ins. Assessor David Sayre defeated Anita Shapiro 159-119. The proposition to create a new EMS district was approved 203-37.” (Source: The Sun Community News)

As the numbers currently stand Supervisor Ed Gardner will remain in office for another term; Jim LaForest & Jay White are ahead for the Town Council seats; and the new EMS district proposal was approved.

Congratulations!

Although we’ll need to be patient a little longer for final Essex election results, I would like to congratulate all of the candidates now. In my estimation you’ve all won. You took a chance and stood up for what you believe in. You promised us that you would serve our community if elected. And you conducted an upbeat, productive, inclusive, future-centric campaign. You demonstrated your commitment to civic responsibility and your faith in your community. Thank you. And congratulations.

Too often campaigns for public office lose sight of the big picture. A better future for a community. Governing. Leadership. While you haven’t all agreed on what the future for Essex should look like, you have all demonstrated an understand and commitment to improved governance and leadership. I have detected very few differences in vision, and I have witnessed diplomacy and constructive debate. This bodes well for Essex on all counts.

Reactions from Candidates

Here are some reactions that we gathered from the candidates. (Will will update as additional Essex election results reactions are received.)

“Throughout the last three months I continuously noted that the single most important task facing this Town is the elimination of day-by-day planning and begin identifying those goals and actions that will guide the Town into planning by long range goal setting. With the Town Board operating as part time officials, the Town has not had the manpower to even begin identifying actions and goals needed to guide such long term planning. The solution? Identifying and then harnessing the huge talent pool of our citizens to prepare such a plan.” ~ Jim LaForest

“My deepest gratitude to everyone who participated in this election, candidates and voters. Should the final vote tally remain in my favor, I will serve the people of Essex with passion, dedication and honesty.” ~ Jay White

“I’m very happy with the results of the election. I am confident in our town government consisting of Ed, Jim, and Jay.” ~ Jonathan Pribble

“I’m thankful to all those who made the extra effort to do a write-in. Many told me it was the first time in their lives they were doing a write-in. With such a close margin, things could really change once absentee ballots are counted and I remain hopeful. Whatever happens, it’s was good to see Essex get charged up in a positive way about our local town politics. I hope we have debates at the grange every election!” ~ Gretel H. Schueller

“It appears that the town will benefit from some ‘new blood’ on the town council. Maybe that person(s) will be able to listen to the ENTIRE community and then communicate to the rest of the town council some new ideas.” ~ Tom Stransky

Stay tuned, the Board of Elections should have the absentee ballots counted and final numbers available by November 12th. We’ll update you on the final counts and the official election results as soon as we can!

Personal Statements from 2015 Town Council Candidates (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Meet the Essex Town Council Candidates (suncommunitynews.com)
Ed Gardner, Jr. Elected Essex Town Supervisor (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)

About Geo Davis

Geo Davis (aka virtualDavis) is a writer, storyteller and unabashed flâneur. He taught and coached at Santa Fe Preparatory School and The American School of Paris, co-founded Maison Margaux: "Paris à la parisienne" in Faubourg Saint-Germain, and owns Adobe Oasis in Santa Fe, NM with his bride.

Geo chronicles adventures (and misadventures) of rehabilitating an historic Essex home at Rosslyn Redux: Reawakening a home, a dream and ourselves; blogs about doodling and other esoterica at virtualDavis.com; posts sometimes unnerving, occasionally euphoric, and always pollyanna "midlife mashups" at 40x41.com; waxes nautical at Sailing Errant; and delves into matters of parenting, babylandia, and childfreedom at Why No Kids? He meanders on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, YouTube and Flickr.