Politics & Government

Split Outcome for Town Board Elections: Unofficial Tally

With numbers for all of the local election districts now public, results show that Bedford voters picked a split outcome. Unofficial numbers show that Democrat Chris Burdick won the race for supervisor while Republican candidates won the races for two council seats, town clerk and town justice.

The data, according to the Westchester County Board of Elections, show that Burdick defeated Republican Don Scott by 2,247 votes to 2,049, or about 52 percent to 48 percent.

For two council seats, Republican candidates Mary Beth Kass (a newcomer) and Francis Corcoran (the lone incumbent running), won with respective numbers of 2,261 and 2,214. Their Democratic counterparts, Meredith Black and Julie Halloween Vulpescu, finished with respective votes of 1,893 and 1,727.

Incumbent Town Clerk Boo Fumagalli easily beat challenger Simone Shapiro, with 2,528 votes to 1,658, or about 60 percent to 40 percent. Incumbent Town Justice Erik Jacobsen beat challenger Judy Aydelott 2,333 to 1,872, or about 55 percent to 45 percent.

Scott conceded to Burdick on election night. Black told Patch that she conceded. Bea Rhodes, who worked on the Democratic slate's campaign, confirmed that the remaining candidates conceded.

Burdick said Scott was "very gracious about it" and said he has done a "great job" for the community.

While the unofficial numbers exclude absentee balloting, Burdick feels that a reversal of the outcome is "extremely unlikely." Before the election day itself, the board of elections furnished a list of requested absentee ballots, he explained.

Burdick, who is currently a councilman and works at a title insurance company as senior counsel, intends to resign his job at the end of the year. His term as supervisor will start on Jan. 1. He will replace Lee Roberts, who has served for 10 years and is leaving.

Burdick also praised Roberts, saying she has done a "superb job." He also feels that the current board, comprised of three Republicans and two Democrats, has done a "great job" in many areas, referencing financial management and the environment as part of its record that he likes.

However, he would like to bring some changes, including more communication with the public and to update the town's comprehensive plan, which was adopted a decade ago. Burdick is also confident that the town board will continue its tradition of operating in a way that is bipartisan.

The new board will have two members supports by the Democrats and two backed by the Republicans, with Burdick's council seat being vacant. Deputy Supervisor Peter Chryssos is also leaving.

A significant item for the new board to deal with when members take their seats at the new year's start will be what to do with Burdick's council seat. While he did not give plans for how this will be done, Burdick explained that under state law a person could either be appointed by the town board or the seat could be left vacant. In either case, however, an election for the remainder of his term must be held by November 2014, although the board could voluntarily hold a special election for it sooner. In either case, an electoral winner won't have much time before another election is held for the seat in November 2015 because Burdick's term expires on Dec. 31 of that year.


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