Thursday, November 6, 2003
Anderson: Lafuente hasn't clinched

Wait until all ballots are in, clerk says

But Anderson said he'd heard reports of Election Day ''irregularities'' at several polling places and wasn't ready to concede defeat.

''I've heard of some problems in the Town of Poughkeepsie, Hyde Park and elsewhere,'' he said. ''I'm not ready to do anything until I get more information, until I look at all the tallies and the discrepancies.''

Lafuente claimed victory, however, saying she was ''looking forward to bringing the county clerk's office into the 21st century.''

Democratic Elections Commissioner Frances Knapp confirmed the county Board of Elections encountered problems at some polling places, but she said she could not estimate how many potential votes for the clerk's race were in question.

''We are just beginning that process,'' Knapp said Wednesday afternoon. ''We have not even begun to do any kind of a count on that.''

The county Board of Elections can't certify the race until all those discrepancies are clarified and all absentee and military ballots are counted, Knapp said. None of the 1,862 absentee ballots received so far have been counted, and more than 700 others sent to voters have yet to be returned, she said.

All due in by Tuesday

Any absentee or military ballot postmarked by Nov. 3 and received at the Board of Elections by Tuesday may be counted, Knapp said.

Informed Anderson had so far refused to concede defeat, Knapp replied, ''I guess that's his right. There is a lot of paper out there.''

In the 1999 election, Anderson narrowly defeated Republican incumbent William Paroli Jr. for the clerk's job -- but not until a lengthy court battle cleared up reported irregularities at various polling places in the county.

''I didn't take office until Feb. 15, 2000,'' Anderson noted Wednesday. ''Sometimes these things take a while.''

Gov. George Pataki issued a statement Wednesday praising Lafuente and other Dutchess County Republicans on their victories.

''I'm very pleased Dutchess County will continue to be led under Republican leadership,'' the governor said.

 Your participation, suggestions and opinions on all matters will be welcomed, and only by your request, will your correspondence be published on this web site anonymously.

Please contact the Justice Team with any information regarding any matter, by CLICKING HERE or E-Mail address: Administrator@DutchessCountyJusticeTeam2003.us or telephone (845) 454-3036. (All information will be kept confidential and your protection is guaranteed)