Theresa Gosart arrives at the Central Fire Station in Owego on Tuesday to cast her vote. (Photo by Wendy Post)
On Tuesday, and following the election in the Village of Owego in which candidate Mike Baratta unseated the current mayor, Steve May, several recounts were requested; the first due to a tie in Ward 3, and the second requested by Theresa Gosart, who was defeated by Ed Morton by eight votes.
At 3 p.m. on Thursday, the Village Clerk Treasurer, Rod Marchewka, reported that Steve May also requested a recount of the votes. May, incumbent, was trailing candidate Mike Baratta for the mayoral seat by nine votes when the polling closed Tuesday.
After the recount Friday morning, Fran VanHousen defeated Mike Phelps in Ward 3 by one vote. It was concluded that there was one absentee ballot that didn’t get counted.
For Ward 1, the recount for Theresa Gosart did not end in a win, and Ed Morton retained his seat.
Likewise, a recount requested by Steve May did not change the outcome, and Mike Baratta won the mayoral election.
Steve May, and his wife Cheryl, arrives at the Central Fire Station in Owego on Tuesday to cast his vote. (Photo by Wendy Post)
A total of 578 voters turned out on Tuesday of the 2,153 that are registered to vote in the Village of Owego election. Marchewka added that this is a below average turnout.
“We normally get about 800 voters,” said Marchewka.
For the Moving Owego Forward Party, they were able to grab three seats on the village board, to include mayor. Marchewka, who was running under the Moving Owego Forward Party, also retained his seat.
Mike Baratta, with the Moving Owego Forward Party, defeated Steve May, incumbent running under the Taxpayers First Party, with 264 votes for Baratta and 255 for May; the youngest to run, Tim Taft, earned 52 votes in Tuesday’s mayoral election in the village of Owego. There were seven write-in votes.
In Ward 1, Ed Morton, incumbent with the Taxpayers First Party, maintained his trustee seat with 286 votes. Theresa Gosart, with the Moving Owego Forward Party, had 278 votes.
Dave Woodburn brings his mother, Louise, to the Central Fire Station in Owego on Tuesday to cast her vote. (Photo by Wendy Post)
In Ward 2, Earl Hartman, incumbent with the Taxpayers First Party, was defeated in the election by Charles Plater, who had 295 votes; Hartman had 268 votes.
In Ward 3, Fran VanHousen, with the Moving Owego Forward Party and Mike Phelps, incumbent with the Taxpayers First Party were tied, with 286 votes each. Following the recount on Friday, VanHousen won the trustee seat.
For Clerk Treasurer Rod Marchewka, incumbent with the Moving Owego Forward Party, he garnered 279 votes and will retain his seat. There were 202 write-in votes.
The position of Village Justice was uncontested.
The best to the new board. A past board member. my best suggestion is do your research and know the Village’s employees.