BERNE — The two town races that were too close to call on Election Night have now been officially decided: Incumbent Councilwoman Melanie laCour has kept her seat and Stephanie Audino will be Berne’s tax collector.

Come Jan. 1, Berne will have a bipartisan town board while Republicans will hold the offices of highway superintendent, clerk, and tax collector.

All seats on the Berne Town Board were open because three councilmen had abruptly quit last year, and the supervisor and deputy supervisor did not seek re-election.

Four candidates sought four-year terms and those results were clear on Election Night: Brian Bunzey, a Democrat running on the Democratic line, and Casey Miller, a Republican running on the Republican and Conservative lines, won.

Three town council candidates also ran for two-year terms, to fill out vacancies.

Scott Duncan, chief of the East Berne Volunteer Fire Company who works as Albany County’s deputy commissioner of public works, was the front runner by a large margin with about 47 percent of the vote. He ran on the Democratic, Republican, and Conservative lines.

The contest between laCour, a Democrat running solely on the Democratic line, and Chance Townsend, running on the Republican and Conservative lines, was too close to call.

LaCour, a lawyer who had been appointed by the governor to restore a functioning government in Berne months after the three board members resigned, got more votes than Duncan on the Democratic line: 604.

Townsend received 567 votes: 395 on the Republican line and 172 on the Conservative line.

LaCour’s 37-vote lead narrowed to 18 in the official results; she won, 618 to 600.

During her campaign, laCour said in response to Enterprise questions, “The most pressing issue is restoring transparency and fiscal stability in our town government.

“Berne’s finances have been in disarray, and too much town business has taken place behind closed doors. I will advocate for public access to the town’s financial information. 

“Transparency is the foundation for accountability — and both are essential to earning public trust.”

Tax collector

Tax Collector Deb Flagler did not seek re-election. Kaufman, the Democratic Committee’s chairman, running solely on the Democratic line, faced off against Audino, running solely on the Republican line.

On Election Night, Kaufman led by 10 votes.

The official tally, however, gives Audino the victory by 12 votes: 656 to 644.

During her campaign, Audino said in answer to Enterprise questions, that she was running “To serve our community with pride and confidentiality.”

Audino also listed her skills; said she is “highly motivated to work independently and/or in a team environment”; and said that, during tax season she would hold hours at the same time the town transfer station is open to make it easier for residents to pay.

Audino was one of three candidates chosen at the Republican caucus to have the GOP line on the ballot but who was not supported financially or with publicity by the committee.

The others were Highway Superintendent Randy Bashwinger, who was ousted, and Town Clerk Kristin De Oliveira, who was re-elected.

Kaufman wrote a letter to the Enterprise editor, congratulating Kaufman and saying, “I wish you success in your position as tax collector for the town of Berne.” Referencing the bipartisan results of the election, Kaufman concluded, “I may have lost the election, but the town of Berne won.”