Ramapo's Wieder falls short after absentee vote count
- Rockland primaries were unaffected by absentee votes.
- Fonvil secured the Conservative and Working Families lines to run for a Spring Valley trustee.
- Wieder was defeated by Tutini, for the Democratic primary to run for the Assembly District 98.
Ramapo's Aron Wieder fell just short in his attempt to win the Democratic primary for the 98th state Assembly District seat after absentee ballots were counted, election officials said Wednesday.
In last week's primary, Wieder, who is a Rockland County legislator, trailed Elisa Tutini of Monroe by 107 votes.
Election officials in Orange and Rockland counties counted all outstanding votes Wednesday. Though the margin was narrowed, Wieder lost by 61 votes.
The district encompasses six Orange County towns, sections of unincorporated Ramapo and the villages of Sloatsburg, Hillburn and Kaser. The seat has been vacant since Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt became Orange County clerk in January.
Wieder said he was grateful for the opportunity.
"I thank every single voter who participated in this election even those who did not vote for me," Wieder stated in an email. "It is an absolute honor to be on the ballot and get the support of fellow citizens."
Tutini now faces Republican Karl Brabenec, the Deerpark town supervisor, in November.
In Spring Valley, Village Trustee Vilair Fonvil managed to hold onto the Conservative and Working Families lines after all the outstanding ballots were counted Tuesday, said Rockland County Election Commissioner Kristen Zebrowski Stavisky.
Fonvil successfully won the Democratic primary last week against challenger Chrispin Eugene, but his efforts to secure the Conservative and Working Family lines ended in a tie because of write-in votes.
Stavisky said after all the outstanding ballots being counted, Fonvil won those party lines for November.
Fonvil, who was appointed to the trustee seat in December by Mayor Demeza Delhomme, has to run this fall to secure the seat. He has been leading a board majority, standing against Delhomme.
The primaries for the Conservative and Working Famiies lines were prompted by a write-in challenge from Joseph Gross, an administrative assistant to Mayor Demeza Delhomme.
Fonvil still faces challenges in November from Eugene on the Organizing Rockland line and Eudson Francois on the Community First line. But securing the Democratic line is a big advantage in the village where the majority of voters are registered Democrats.