Tamara Dickey

JAMESTOWN – Two new Republicans will be added to the Jamestown City Council in January, increasing the overall number to four.

On Friday, Absentee and affidavit ballots were counted for the final time in the race for the city council’s Ward 3 race. After the final tally, it was found that Republican Tamara Dickey collected 233 votes, which was 6 more than her opponent, Democrat Regina Brackman.  They two were running for the open seat currently held by democrat Michael Taylor.

The final result means Dickey will join Republican newcomer Brent Sheldon of Ward 1 on the City Council. Sheldon defeated democrat Tara Hall for the open Ward 1 seat currently held by Steve Szewjbka, an independent who did not seek re-eleciton.

There are two other Republicans on the council as well. They are Tony Dolce of Ward 2 and at-large council member Kim Ecklund. Both ran unopposed in this year’s election.

The five democrats on the council are Gregory Rabb – At-Large; Marie Carrubba – Ward IV; Maria Jones  – Ward V; Paul Whitford  – Ward VI; and George Spitale – At-Large. Of the five, only Carrubba ran opposed. She defeated Republican candidate Richard Elardo on election night.

As of Monday, Republican Tamara Dickey (left) leads Democrat Regina Brackman (right) by only four votes.

JAMESTOWN – After counting absentee and affidavit ballots for a city council election, the official outcome of the race has yet to be declared.

On Monday, members of the Chautauqua County Board of Elections hand counted absentee, affidavit and unscanned ballots for the Jamestown City Council Ward One and Ward Three races.

In the Ward One Race, it was confirmed that Republican Brent Sheldon defeated Democrat Tara Hall by a final tally of 356 to 344 – a margin of just 12 votes.

However, in the Ward Three Race, 14 ballots were objected to and set aside for three days.  The ballots will be counted again on Friday, barring any judicial action.  Currently in that race – following the counting of absentee and affidavit ballots – Republican Tamara Dickey leads Democrat Regina Brackman by just four votes – with a tally of 225-221.

The only other close race from Election night took place in the town of Gerry Highway Superintendent Race. There, Republican Brian Anderson, the election night leader, has been declared the unofficial winner over incumbent Highway Superintendent Mark Risley. The final vote tally was 331-308.

In the Ward One race on election night, Republican Brent Sheldon held a double-digit lead over Democrat Tara Hall. The Ward Three race was much closer, with Republican Tamara Dickey holding just a three-vote lead over Democrat Regina Brackman.

Election officials say there were a total of three General Elections within the margin of any outstanding absentee and/or affidavit ballots deciding the winner. The third race involved Gerry Highway Superintendent. Board of election officials will open the ballot for that race at 3 p.m. this afternoon.

Barring any court action, an unofficial winner will be declared and the Board of Elections will then proceed to its certification process of declaring an official winner.

Results will be added to the totals and posted on www.votechautauqua.com.

In the city council’s Ward I race, Republican Brent Sheldon currently leads Tara Hall with an unofficial tally 328 to 300. While several absentee ballots are still left to be counted, Sheldon told WRFA on Election Night that he is confident he won the seat, considering several of the outstanding absentee and affidavit ballots come from a senior living center in the district, where residents tend to lean toward voting Republican.

Meanwhile, in the Ward III seat, Tamara Dickey leads Regina Brackman by just three votes – 208 to 205. That race is too close to call at this point and will rely on absentee ballots, which will be opened on Nov. 18.

In the only other contested race, Democrat Marie Carrubba defeated Republican Richard Elardo 587 to 417.

The city council also had six members who were running unopposed. They were:

• Ward II: Tony Dolce (R,C,I)
• Ward V: Maria Jones (D)
• Ward VI: Paul Whitford (D,WF,I)
• At Large: Kimberly Ecklund (R,C,I)
• At Large: Gregory Rabb (D,WF,I)
• At Large: George Spitale (D,WF,I)

There will also be elections for the downsized county legislature, which will have just 19 seats starting in January 2014, compared to the current 25 seats. In all, there will be 10 contested races for the legislature:

• District 3: Bob Scudder (R,C-Fredonia); Billy Coughlin (D,WF,I-Fredonia)
• District 4: Janet Keefe (D,WF,I-Fredonia); Michael Sullivan (R, C-Fredonia)
• District 5: Susan Baldwin (D-South Dayton); Terry Niebel (R,C,I-Dunkirk)
• District 7: John Runkle (R,C,I-Stockton); Tom DeJoe (D,WF-Brocton)
• District 10: P.J. Wendell (R,C-Lakewood); Sharon Lisciandro (D,I-Lakewood)
• District 11: Dave Wilfong (R,C-Jamestown); Bob Whitney (D,WF,I-Jamestown)
• District 12: William Prieto (R,C-Jamestown); Fred Larson (D,I-Jamestown)
• District 15: Lisa Vanstrom (R,I-West Ellicott); Sam Ognibene (D,C-Falconer)
• District 16: Ron Lemon (R,C-Frewburg); Tom Erlandson (D,I-Frewsburg)
• District 18: David Himelein (R,C,I-Findley Lake); Ed Carutis (D,WF-Sherman)

There are also three Jamestown city council seats that will contested:

• Ward I: Tara Hall (D); Brent Sheldon (R,C)
• Ward III:  Regina Brackman (D); Tamara Dickey (R,C)
• Ward IV: Marie Carrubba (D,WF,I); Richard Elardo (R,C)

For more details on this year’s race, including audio from candidate, visit www.WRFALP.com/election-2013. Information regarding all races for 2013 can also be found at www.VoteChautauqua.com.