Christi Acker, running as a Democrat, won a 14-year term on the State Supreme Court representing the 9th District, which includes Dutchess, Putnam, Orange, Rockland and Westchester counties. With most precincts reporting, she had 51 percent of the vote over Republican candidate Linda Murray, who had 39 percent. In Dutchess, Acker won 51-36, and in Putnam, Murray won, 52-48.
Robin Lois, a Democrat, leads incumbent Dutchess County comptroller Jim Coughlan, a Republican first elected in 2009, by 412 votes among nearly 63,000 cast. But 3,884 absentee votes must still be counted, so the race will not be decided until next week. The comptroller, who serves a four-year term, is the chief accounting and auditing officer for the county.
Proposal 1, which called for a convention to amend or rewrite the state constitution, which hasn’t been revised since 1938, as soundly defeated, with 78 percent of voters saying nay. In Dutchess the margin was 86-14 and in Putnam 88-12.
Proposal 2, which would allow judges to reduce or revoke the state pension of any public officer convicted of a felony related to his or her duties, passed statewide by a margin of 67-25, in Dutchess 78-22 and in Putnam, 73-27.
Proposal 3, which would create a 250-acre “land bank” that would allow certain towns, villages and counties to request state Forest Preserve land for projects where they have no other option, passed by a 46-43 margin. In Dutchess the vote was 56-44 and in Putnam, 51-49.
William Gouldman and Toni Addonizio were re-elected to the Putnam County Legislature, and Amy Sayegh, executive director of Putnam Community Cares, took the 8th District seat representing Mahopac and Mahopac Falls. She ran unopposed after defeating incumbent Dini LoBue in the Republican primary. LoBue encouraged write-ins, and there were 315, but that was far short of Sayegh’s 1,750 votes, including absentee.
The Putnam County Firearm Owners Association had mixed results with its endorsements. Smith and all three legislature winners received at least an A from the group as “solid Second Amendment candidates” but Langley got a D and Acker, a C. In Philipstown, Greco got an A and Van Tassel, Leonard and Shea each received Ds.
Results
State Supreme Court Justice, 9th District (14-year term)
The 9th District (of 13) covers Dutchess, Putnam, Orange, Rockland and Westchester counties.
1,201 of 1,857 districts reporting
Christi Acker (D) — 152,600 (51%)
Linda Murray (R) — 119,445 (40%)
Dutchess vote:
Christi Acker (D) — 32,075 (51%)
Linda Murray (R) — 22,815 (36%)
Putnam vote:
Christi Acker (D) — 11,546 (48%)
Linda Murray (R) — 12,367 (52%)
Dutchess County Comptroller (4-year term)
The comptroller is the chief accounting and auditing officer for the county.
*Jim Coughlan (R) — 31,208 (49.65%)
Robin Lois (D) — 31,620 (50.3%)
*Incumbent
Proposal 1
Every 20 years, voters are asked if they would like to amend or rewrite the state constitution, which hasn’t been revised since 1938. This is done through a constitutional convention. If approved, delegates would be elected in November 2018 and the convention would convene in April 2019. In November 2019, voters would consider every amendment proposed by the convention.
Proponents argue that the constitution could be updated and revised more easily with a convention and vote than through the legislative process. For instance, the New York State Bar Association says a convention could help streamline New York’s convoluted court system. Opponents argue it would open the door for intense lobbying by special interests and political insiders that could threaten labor rights, pension benefits and environmental protections. It also would be expensive, they argue, costing tens of millions of dollars.
11,641 of 15,502 election districts reporting
Yes — 423,060 (17%)
No — 1,953,685 (76%)
Dutchess vote:
Yes — 9,350 (14%)
No — 55,306 (86%)
Putnam vote:
Yes — 3,198 (13%)
No — 22,301 (87%)
Proposal 2
This proposal would allow judges to reduce or revoke the state pension of any public officer convicted of a felony related to his or her duties.
Yes — 1,677,179 (64%)
No — 683,901 (26%)
Dutchess vote:
Yes — 49,980 (78%)
No — 13,979 (22%)
Putnam vote:
Yes — 18,459 (74%)
No — 6,611 (26%)
Proposal 3
This proposal would create a 250-acre “land bank” that would allow towns, villages and counties to request state Forest Preserve land for projects where they have no other option. For example, a town may want to eliminate a dangerous road curve. In exchange, the state Legislature would need to add 250 acres to the Forest Preserve. Only municipalities located in 16 rural counties west or upstate of the Highlands would be allowed to use the land bank, including Ulster, Greene, Sullivan and Delaware. The proposal also would allow bike paths, sewer lines and utility lines along highways on preserve land.
Yes — 1,164,852 (46%)
No — 1,108,724 (43%)
Dutchess vote:
Yes — 35,372 (56%)
No — 27,353 (44%)
Putnam vote:
Yes — 12,705 (51%)
No — 12,000 (49%)
