Supe Race Comes Down To Absentees; Dems Grab Council Seats

East Hampton Town Supervisor Bill Wilkinson has won re-election at the polls, but with less than 200 votes separating him from candidate Zachary Cohen, the final call will be left to the absentee ballots.

Meanwhile Democrat candidates secured spots on the East Hampton Town Board.

The Suffolk County Board of Elections reported all 19 districts reporting in on Wednesday morning, though the numbers did not appear to have been updated from when only 17 districts had reported in. They show Wilkinson ahead 51.42 percent, having received 3,066 votes. Cohen had 48.45 percent of the vote, or 2,889 votes.

"This is the second election in two years where absentee ballots are critical," said East Hampton Republican Committee chairwoman Trace Duryea.

From , Cohen said he expected a close race, but he didn’t expect it to be as close as it was. The absentee ballots, he said, would have to be counted as they come in over the next week, but it could take longer if other towns require recounts.

The Republican and Democrats' numbers when it comes to the absentees differ slightly, based on when they last checked with the Board of Elections. It seems that between 700 to 800 absentee ballots have been returned so far out of approximately 1,050 that had been requested. All absentee ballots, except for those from members of the military, had to be returned by Tuesday night at 9 p.m., when the polls closed.

"I know it's not over until it's over," Wilkinson told the large crowd at Republican headquarters at , adding that he was encouraged so far.

According to unofficial numbers furnished by Cohen, the night’s final tally had Wilkinson with 3,007 votes and Cohen with 2,886. The Republicans meanwhile had numbers that showed Wilkinson ahead with 3,217 to 2,942.

The scheduled festivities for the Democrats didn’t really get rolling at Rowdy Hall  until shortly after 11 p.m. on Tuesday, when Van Scoyoc and Overby locked in seats on the town board.

The board of elections showed Van Scoyoc coming out on top with 2,689 votes, or 23.69 percent, and Overby with 2,475 votes, or 21.43 percent.

Van Scoyac said, it was an "unusual race, anything could have happened," as there were six candidates up for two council seats.

"I'm elated," Overby said. Speaking of the Democrats campaign, she said, "The message was about quality of life and community character, and it rang true with the electorate."

Cohen said, “I think we did a fabulous job,” recalling that members of his own party suggested he save the money and not run back in August. “We showed the policies we put forth matched what the people in the town wanted and needed."

For the two , there was sheer disappointment. Bill Mott, who seemed to have a groundswell of support, received about 13.9 percent of the vote and came in fifth, behind Republicans respectively. "I thought it would be a lot closer," he said.

Marilyn Behan was nearly in tears at the party's headquarters at . Having come in last with about 11.5 percent of the vote, she said she was proud of her campaign.

*7 votes for write in candidate(s)

East Hampton Town Council 

With reporting by