While absentee ballots could change the results from election night, it appears Todd Casella has unseated incumbent Valerie Gardner in the race for Yates County district attorney.
According to unofficial results posted by the Board of Elections Tuesday night, Casella garnered 2,704 votes, or 52.6 percent, to 2,435, or 47.3 percent, for Gardner.
Approximately 550 absentee ballots were sent out, and more than 400 have been returned so far. They will be counted next week, but both sides believe Casella’s 269-vote margin is unassailable.
“There’s obviously a chance it could turn around, but she would have to pull a very high percentage of absentee votes,” Casella said. “I feel very good about this.”
“Preliminary results are in and although there are still over 500 absentee ballots to be counted, it appears that my service to you as your district attorney will end Dec. 31,” Gardner said on her Facebook site.
