KNOX—As Tuesday’s election approached, no one in Knox seemed able to predict who would win the race for superintendent of highways.
"No one knew," said incumbent Gary Salisbury, who emerged victorious by a huge margin over August Landauer, 723 to 352. The Republican Salisbury won nearly 70 percent of the vote in a town where Democrats are usually all but assured to win.

The Republicans claimed another town post Tuesday night when Kimberly Swain defeated incumbent town clerk Deborah Liddle by 50 votes.

Two years ago, Salisbury, running on the Independence Party line, defeated the long-time superintendent Landauer on a technicality. The Democrats in 2003 ran a write-in campaign because they turned in their paper work late and weren’t allowed to appear on the ballot. Landauer, however, was still on the Conservative Party line, so his 267 write-in votes were thrown out by the New York State Supreme Court, leaving him 220 votes to Salisbury’s 268.

In this year’s campaign, Salisbury claimed that the quality of the highway department’s work has improved under his supervision, and the department has modernized and become more accessible to residents. He attributed his victory to that.
"I think people really appreciate the work," he said.

Tuesday night at Town Hall, as election officials read the results, Salisbury, surrounded by family, held a sample ballot against the wall, writing in the numbers. When he realized he won, he was visibly relieved.
"I’m back in," he told The Enterprise, grinning.

Salisbury thanked those who helped him in his campaign.
"It was a real team effort," Salisbury said.

Landauer said he expected a tighter race. Speaking from his home Wednesday morning, he sounded deflated.
"The people have spoken, I guess," Landauer said.

He said he doesn’t know if he’ll try for office again in 2007.
"I don’t know where I’ll be in two years," said Landauer, who had served as highway superintendent for 18 years.

Town clerk

Swain said she was a little surprised at winning the election for town clerk.
"It caught me off guard," she said, "but I’m glad I won."

Her opponent, Liddle, a Democrat, has been in office since 2000. Before that, she was the deputy town clerk, from 1983 to 1994.
Swain, who describes herself as a "stay-at-home mom," campaigned on a platform of greater availability in the part-time post.

Swain said she may have won because she introduced herself to most of the town during her campaign. She visited over 800 homes, Swain said.
"I got out and I got to talk to many of the people," she said. It was hard work, she said, but, "it was well worth it. It paid off in the end."

She received 552 votes to Liddle’s 502. (All vote counts reported in this story are unofficial results from the Albany County Board of Elections on Wednesday.)

Swain assumes office Jan. 1.
"I’m really excited," she said. "I can’t wait."

Supervisor and town board

In other Knox elections, incumbent Supervisor Michael Hammond, a Democrat, defeated Republican challenger Mark Von Haugg, 618 to 443, or 58 to 42 percent.

Hammond has been supervisor since 1974.
"I’m very pleased I won and I look forward to doing the work of the town for the next two years," Hammond said.

Hammond said he never takes a victory for granted. This year, he said, he and the other Democrats campaigned at every home in Knox.

In the race for two seats on the town board, incumbent Democrat Nicholas Viscio earned the most votes, with 600, followed closely by Democrat Dennis Decker, with 593. In January, Decker will return to the town board after a two-year absence. He lost his seat in the Democratic write-in campaign of 2003.
"I’m glad," Decker said of his victory. "It was more work than it was before. It was a complete effort."

Decker will take the place of Democrat Charles Conklin, who did not seek reelection because of his health.

The Republican candidate, Helene O’Clair, got 491 votes. With O’Clair’s loss, the Democrats retain their 3-to-2 majority on the town board.

Town justice and receiver of taxes

Running unopposed on the ballot, Democrat Jean Gagnon received 548 votes for town justice. Cheryl Frantzen ran a write-in campaign against Gagnon. Though the Albany County Board of Elections has not yet released write-in results, it was clear from the numbers at the poll Tuesday night that Frantzen didn’t have nearly enough votes to beat Gagnon.

This is Gagnon’s first run for office. She will take the place of Democrat Judge John Rodd Jr., who decided not to seek reelection after over 25 years in office.
"I’m excited," said Gagnon. "It’s a new part of my life."

In the race for receiver of taxes, incumbent Democrat Delia Palombo soundly defeated challenger Karen Catalfamo, who ran on the Independence and Conservative party lines. Palombo has held the post since 1981. She received 528 votes to Catalfamo’s 260.