Hunter wins Primary challenge
Crosset, Lattimer contest too close to call
BY MARY PERHAM THE LEADER

BATH - Steuben County Clerk Judith Hunter will return to office in January, with a 3,440-2,230 Republican Primary victory Tuesday over Veronica Olin, of Hornellsville.

The unofficial results of the election were posted on the county Board of Election's Website, with 84 out of 85 districts reporting.

Hunter, 61, said she was disappointed in the low voter turn out Tuesday, and said her margin of victory might have been greater if more voters had shown up at the polls.

"But I'm delighted I won and thankful and I look forward to serving the people as I always have," Hunter said.

Political newcomer Olin, 43, said her tally was gratifying.

"I'm just very awed by the support I received," Olin said. "I did something I believed in doing and I ran a clean campaign."

Olin has worked in the county clerk's office for nine years, and suggested during her campaign a number of improvements in the way the office is run.

Hunter said she would need clarification on Olin's ideas before they could be implemented. She said she dispelled any workplace awkwardness about the race early in the contest.

"It's everyone's right to run for office," Hunter said. "It's what democracy is all about."

Olin said she looked forward to going to the office

after the election. "It's where I've been working, every day, and it will be where I am tomorrow," she said Tuesday night.

In other races, a number of candidates commented Tuesday night on the lack of voter turn out for Republican primaries.

That lack may be most apparent in the Bath legislative District 3, where both candidates say the race is too close to call.

With absentee ballots still uncounted, Lawrence Crossett has a slim 38-vote lead over Robin Lattimer, in a 449-411 unofficial result.

"It just may be too close to call," said Crossett, 61, the former county Treasurer.

"Robin is an excellent candidate, and if it turns out she won, well, OK. But I really hope I'm the one in front when it's all said and done."

Lattimer, 54, said the race is too close to declare a winner.

"I'm a little disappointed, let's wait and see," said Lattimer, a Bath town councilwoman and director of constituent services for Assemblyman James Bacalles, R-Corning. "Larry is a good candidate. I guess I just feel as if I thought the county Legislature was more important than some of the voters did."

Turnout was also light in the legislative District 7, where incumbent Legislator John Walsh beat Howard Town Supervisor Don Evia 387-297.

Evia, 58, who has been guaranteed a spot on the Conservative line Nov. 6, said tersely he had no comment on the primary results.

Walsh credited his door-todoor campaign for his primary win.

"That approach seems to work," Walsh said. "I did it before and I'll do it again."

An overview of election results:

COUNTY CLERK (Vote for ONE) Judith M. Hunter 3477 Veronica L. Olin 2254

COUNTY LEGISLATOR (Third District) Robin K. Lattimer 411 Lawrence P. Crossett 449 Rosalie Niemczyk 59

COUNTY LEGISLATOR (Seventh District) John S. Walsh 387 Donald F. Evia 297

Bath COUNCILMEN (Vote for ANY TWO) 6B William S. Glosick 468 7B Albert C. Burns 615 8B George C. Hauryski 440 COLLECTOR (Vote for ONE) 9B Phillip Glosick 625 10B Walter Hackett 217

Cameron SUPERINTENDENT OF HIGHWAYS (Vote for ONE) Stanley A. Parsels 84 Raymond T. Orr 37

Howard COUNCILMEN (Vote for ANY TWO) Eric D. Hosmer 95 Robert C. Palmer 128 William O. Hatch 127

Prattsburgh COUNCILMEN (4 Years) (Vote for ANY TWO) Steven R. Kula 75 David F. Hall 71 Stacey Bottoni 87

Urbana SUPERVISOR (Vote for ONE) Gordon E. Lanphere 221 Richard G. Gardiner 116

Urbana CLERK (Vote for ONE) Dawn M. Hoyt 155 Mary M. Farmer 173 Carla S. Ridge 10

Urbana COUNCILMEN (Vote for ANY TWO) L. John Webster 132 Barbara J. Yahn 195 Thomas M. Chadwick 132 Paul J. Martuscello 191

Wheeler SUPERINTENDENT OF HIGHWAYS (Vote for ONE) Randy L. Comstock 121 Alan M. Trenchard 34