November 26, 2013
New York

Hirschey official victor In Cape supervisor race

WWNY TV 7 | Story Published: Nov 25, 2013 | www.wwnytv.com

Nearly three weeks after Election Day, the races for supervisor and town council in Cape Vincent have finally been decided.
Jefferson County elections officials gathered at the Board of Elections office Monday to count the remaining absentee ballots.

Town Supervisor Urban Hirschey officially won re-election.

He defeated Democratic challenger Alan Wood with a vote of 651 to 574.

After election night, Wood was leading Hirschey 501 to 426, but 300 absentee ballots called those results into question.

The absentee ballots were critical to the outcome of the race because many of them were from seasonal residents who favor Republican candidates because of their opposition to wind power.

It appears the part-time residents will have a decisive say in town government.

“I won’t say it’s wrong because that’s what New York state allows, but I think it needs to be changed,” said Wood.

Incumbent town council member Brooks Bragdon also won, but incumbent Michelle Oswald lost.

Here are the official results:

– Paul Aubertine 621
– Brooks Bragdon 623
– Dennis Pearson 577
– Michelle Oswald 601

On election night, the results were as follows:

– Paul Aubertine 542
– Brooks Bragdon 406
– Dennis Pearson 497
– Michelle Oswald 386

The results give the town’s anti-wind power group one less seat on the council, but it still maintains a four-to-one majority.

But do the results change anything in the long battle over wind power in the cape?

Probably not.

BP Wind Power is still there and is filing for what’s called an Article 10.

That takes takes the decision about a wind project out of the hands of local government and gives it to the state of New York.

If there’s one thing the two town supervisors candidates agree on, it’s that the town and village need to move beyond the politics of wind power.

“I think people need to realize it’s ruining the town. The town is dying and something needs to be done and they need to get their mind on something else,” said Wood.

“The cape really needs healing and less publicity,” said Hirschey.

The slate of Democrats had challenged dozens of the ballots in state Supreme Court, but dropped that challenge on Friday.

The results will now be certified.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/11/26/hirschey-official-victor-in-cape-supervisor-race/