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NEWSChannel 2 projects Maciol as winner of Oneida County Sheriff's Race

By PAT BAILEY

Story Created: Nov 9, 2010 at 12:58 PM EDT

Story Updated: Nov 9, 2010 at 5:02 PM EDT

DECISION 2010 (WKTV) - Robert Maciol is the projected winner in the race for Oneida County Sheriff, according to the number of absentee ballots returned to the Oneida County Board of Elections on Tuesday.

Maciol, a Democrat, leads Republican David Townsend by 2,601 votes. Only 2,662 absentee ballots were returned as of Tuesday.

Townsend would have to receive all but 61 absentee votes to overtake Maciol.

In all, 3,564 absentee ballots were sent out, said Kathy Perez Oneida County Democratic Commissioner. All non-military absentee ballots had to be post marked by November 1, and into the office by the end of the day Tuesday, according to Perez.

79 military absentee ballots were sent out, and 54 have already returned, Perez said. The military has until November 24 to have their ballots returned. The extension of time for the military ballots is because of problems getting the ballots overseas to the troops in the first place.

When asked Tuesday about the race, Townsend said he is not ready to concede. The outgoing New York State Assemblyman said there were too many problems with the board of elections on election night and he is "not going to do anything until he knows what is going on".

Townsend said four people have contacted him to let him know they did not receive their absentee ballots.

Robert Maciol says he has a staff member overseeing the absentee ballot recount and he is confident the results will mirror those of the polls on election night.

"We are very, very, very, optimistic we will prevail," Maciol said.

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