Wilkinson Reportedly Ahead By 45 Heading into Tuesday BOE Meeting

Lawyers representing both East Hampton Democrats and Republicans are expected to gather at the Board of Elections on Tuesday at 2 p.m. to continue working down the number of contested absentee ballots to .

According to Democratic Chairwoman Jeanne Frankl, Supervisor Bill Wilkinson is currently up by a slim margin - 45 votes - heading into Tuesday's meeting. The numbers were originally reported by 27East, which quoted Chris Kelly, Democratic challenger Zach Cohen's campaign manager, as offering the numbers.

The article goes on to quote Kelly as saying that a "vast majority" of the remaining 72 ballots were challenged by the Republican party. Kelly, in a phone interview shortly before the 2 p.m. meeting, said he estimated at least 50 of the outstanding ballots were Republican challenges, though he said his number was an "approximation."

Democratic Commissioner with the Board of Elections, Anita Katz, said Tuesday morning that the number of challenged ballots was reduced Monday afternoon from about 100 down to roughly 70.

East Hampton Republican Chair Trace Duryea said in a phone conversation that she did not have firm numbers on hand though she said she remains "cautiously optimistic" about Wilkinson's chances.

The parties will convene on Tuesday to consider withdrawing more of their challenges and open those ballots, and the challenges remaining after that process will go before the election commissioners, Katz and Republican Commissioner Wayne Rogers, who will then decide if ballots will be opened, or remain closed and challenged. If the two split their vote on a ballot, either party has three days to bring the challenge to court.

Katz, as a BOE official, was unable to provide numbers on the state of the race at the current moment.