Accusations, recount mar village election
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Village Vision Party candidate Mary E. Lowther was elected mayor of the Village of Williamsville in results tabulated late Tuesday night.

The count provided by the village administrator's office Tuesday was Lowther with 388 votes and Harmony Party challenger Brian Geary with 382 votes.

However, Geary called for a recount Tuesday night due to what he called irregularities in voting procedures.

"Democracy was hijacked Tuesday night," Geary said.

According to Geary, the "irregularities," which he said took place during the election, included the vote coaching of senior citizens and the mentally handicapped by Village Vision Party candidates and representatives and several residents being turned away from the polls and not allowed to vote.

He also claims that candidates from his party, the Harmony Party, were told to keep a certain distance from the polling places while candidates from the Village Vision Party were not required to do so.

Lowther denies Geary's accusations.

"I'm sorry Brian feels that there were irregularities. I have not been told of any specific problems," Lowther said. "The only contact I had with seniors at the polling place was when some friends were stranded at the polling place due to the elevator breaking down."

She went on to say that no one was coached at polling places, particularly senior citizens.

"I am very offended that anyone would think that any voter, most especially seniors, could be coerced about their rights to vote in a village election and could be forced to vote for any candidate not of their choosing," she said. "Some of my best friends are seniors, and they certainly can and do make their own choices in any matter, including elections."

After the recount, held by the Erie County Board of Elections in the Tri-Main Building in downtown Buffalo on Thursday afternoon, Lowther remains the victor in the mayoral race. Geary's term as trustee will not expire until 2009.

"It hurts a lot to lose by six votes," he said.

Geary maintains that there are still discrepancies concerning absentee ballots that were missing names or signatures, but he will not contest the election further.

"I'm going to be the bigger person and not try to get the election overturned," Geary said, noting that he hopes people who feel they received unfair treatment on Election Day will notify other public officials and media sources. "It's my passion for the Village of Williamsville that's keeping me from going to court."

While Lowther and Geary have not spoken since the election, both noted a common interest in serving the village over personal agendas.

"It's important for everyone to put this past us and continue to do the job that we were elected to perform," Lowther said. "Our interests must be on village business, not personal issues, and it's my hope that this will happen."

Geary agreed, but noted that the Harmony Party is now in the majority with three members on the board - Geary, Trustee Basil Piazza and newly elected Trustee Jeffrey Kingsley.

In the four-person race for two seats on the board of trustees, the high vote-getters were Kingsley with 392 votes and Village Vision Party candidate Brian J. Kulpa with 391 votes.

Failing to win election were Village Vision Party candidate and incumbent Richard Sweeney, 373 votes, and Harmony Party candidate David Lipinoga, 369 votes.

Incumbent Jeffrey Voelkl, who was endorsed by both parties, was unopposed in his bid for re-election as village justice. There was, however, one write-in ballot for Victoria D'Angelo for the justice post.

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com