Kahng Ekes Out Legislative Win; McCracken & Russo Also Claim Victory

By Holly Crocco

It’s looking like another Democrat will join the Putnam County Legislature in January, meaning there will be two on the governing body, among the seven Republicans.

After three days of tallying absentee ballots in the race for Putnam County Legislature District 3, which represents the Town of Kent, Democrat Kathy Kahng claimed victory in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 election against Republican Joseph Cunningham, with a reported vote tally of 2,496 to 2,463, or 50.33 to 49.67 percent, as of Friday evening when the most recent county was reported.

While Cunningham reportedly called Kahng on Thursday to concede, there were still 94 absentee ballots, plus affidavits, left outstanding.

“You can concede a race, but the votes cast and the ballots are what determines the winner,” explained Democratic Putnam County Elections Commissioner Cathy Croft on Friday.

Kahng is embracing the assumed victory.

“Thank you for your support and trust in electing me your Putnam County legislator, District 3,” she said Friday. “We are going to do great things together for the constituents in Kent, Patterson, and Putnam County.”

In Legislature District 2, representing Putnam Valley, Republican Christian Russo defeated Democrat Maia Gilleo by 144 votes, with a tally of 2,361 to 2,217, or 52 to 48 percent, as of Friday’s counting.

Russo, who has served on the Putnam Valley Town Board since 2011, thanked voters for their confidence in him.

“I want everyone to know that I do not take this responsibility lightly,” he said. “It is an honor to have the opportunity to represent our community and I am committed to being a strong voice for Putnam Valley at the county level… My commitment is to represent everyone.”

In Legislature District 8, representing Mahopac Falls, Republican Tanner McCracken defeated Democrat Gwen Burke 2,877 to 1,659, or 63 to 37 percent, as reported Friday.

McCracken, 27, previously served six years on the Mahopac School Board and won a Republican primary in June against Carmel Town Councilman Frank Lombardi, with nearly 75 percent of the vote.

“This journey taught me more about the people I will be representing than I ever could have imagined,” he said of his 11-month grassroots campaign. “And through it all, Mahopac gave me something I will carry – not just for the next three years, but for the rest of my life: their belief in me… Mahopac, I made promises to you. And I intend to keep them.”

For Putnam County coroner, incumbent Republican Dr. Michael Nesheiwat and Democratic candidate Michael Strauss came out victorious, with 36 and 33 percent of the vote, respectively, or 22,003 and 20,138 votes, as of Friday.

Incumbent Republican John Bourges received 32 percent, or 19,627 votes.