Kristin Fleming has conceded the Seneca County sheriff’s race to Republican Mike Passalacqua after initially holding off while additional ballots remained outstanding.
Passalacqua, the retired Geneva police chief, held a 419-vote lead in unofficial election night results, receiving 6,023 votes to Fleming’s 5,604 with all 27 election districts reporting. He will serve a four-year term beginning Jan. 1.
Fleming, a Democrat and retired State Police member, initially said she was awaiting final results before conceding. By Wednesday afternoon, she had publicly accepted the outcome in a statement on her campaign’s Facebook page.
“I respect the decision of the voters and congratulate my opponent on their victory,” Fleming wrote. “My sincere hope is that our next Sheriff will be successful in leading an office that serves and protects every resident of Seneca County.”
Her concession brings the campaign to a close, but election officials still must finish reviewing ballots and certify the results.
Seneca County Republican Elections Commissioner Tiffany Folk told the Finger Lakes Times that election night totals included Election Day ballots, early voting and most absentee ballots received through Nov. 2.
As of Wednesday, remaining categories included approximately 75 to 100 affidavit ballots awaiting eligibility review, 176 absentee ballots issued but not yet returned, and approximately five to 10 ballots requiring a hand count. Write-in votes also will be reviewed during the canvass.
Those figures do not represent a guaranteed number of additional votes. Some affidavit ballots may not qualify, and some outstanding absentee ballots may not be returned or eligible to count. Folk cautioned that the outstanding ballot total does not necessarily equal the number of additional votes in the sheriff’s race.
Folk said qualifying absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by the Board of Elections by Nov. 10. Officials were conducting a recanvass and anticipated certifying results by Nov. 18 or sooner.
Passalacqua claimed victory Tuesday night, saying he was ready to get to work.
Fleming thanked voters, volunteers and her family for supporting her campaign. She said integrity, accountability, professionalism and service had guided her 32-year law enforcement career and would remain her principles.
“Although this campaign has come to an end, my commitment to this community has not,” she wrote. “Seneca County is my home, and I will always care deeply about its future.”
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