ALBANY COUNTY — A political candidate who calls himself "a true Conservative" is questioning the absentee ballot process.

Of 14 absentee ballots taken for last Tuesday’s Conservative Party primary for Rensselaerville, 13 were returned, all of them cast for Democrats. No enrolled Republican or Conservative candidates received votes.

Democratic candidates Marie Dermody and Gary Chase, both running for town council, received nine votes in yesterday’s count by the Albany County Board of Elections, and Democratic assessor Jeff Pine also received nine votes.

Four absentee ballots are being contested, meaning the courts will decide.

Anyone can apply for an absentee ballot, said John Graziano, the Republican commissioner of the board of elections. When applying, voters choose how they receive their ballots; they can either pick them up in person at the board’s office; have the ballots sent to them; or they can have the ballots picked up someone they designate. A designated person can obtain up to eight ballots, according to Graziano.

Designated ballot obtainers in the Rensselaerville primary were all Democrats — Sherri Pine, Bradley Chase, Bonnie Chase Gifford, and Rensselaerville’s highway superintendent, G. Jon Chase.
Steven Wood, an enrolled Conservative running for assessor in Rensselaerville, called himself a "true Conservative" and complained about Democrats infiltrating the party.
"We’re going to lose the line. At least I am," he said. In the last town election, he lost a close race to Chase, the incumbent highway superintendent, and has been outspoken about highway issues at board meetings this year.
"These are the four challenges we have to win in order to tie," said Bob Bolte, an enrolled Conservative, yesterday.

One ballot being contested by the Conservatives is from Eddie Welsch, whose address is listed on Miller Road, which, Bolte said, has no house. Welsch could not be reached for comment.

The 41-acre property at 97 Miller Road, listed as a mine and quarry and valued at $30,500, belongs to James L. Welsch, of Medusa, according to 2007 tax rolls.

Yesterday, Bolte and Wood challenged absentee ballots on different grounds — their signatures and dates.

Republicans Myra Dorman and Allyn Wright, both Republicans running for town council, did not receive any votes from absentee ballots. Each received nine votes last week.
"If we’re going to get politics to stop stinking like a dead woodchuck in the hot summer sun, we’re going to have to get some ethics," said Wood.
Last Tuesday, only 10 Conservatives voted — all on paper ballots. Eight votes were counted for Wood. One was invalidated because a voter’s name was written on the wrong line. Another ballot said "none."
"They might have won and it may be legal," said Wood. He questioned the process of Democrats picking up Conservative ballots. "Is it ethical to deliver absentee ballots to Democrats"" he asked. He answered his own question, saying it is not ethical and it "stinks to high heaven."