Villagers elect Najdek and Kerr, Sherman and Brooks to a runoff

MILLERTON — While Jenn Najdek was a shoo-in for mayor as she ran unchallenged in the Village Election on Tuesday, June 15, and newcomer Laurie Kerr easily won one of the trustee positions with 102 votes, the race for the second trustee seat has led to a runoff election. That’s because candidates Dave Sherman and DeLora Brooks were at a dead heat with 83 votes each after the ballots were recalculated on Monday, June 21, due to a New York State provisional law that requires a recount if the margin of victory is 20 votes or less. 

This year, sitting Mayor Debbie Middlebrook opted not to run for re-election; Deputy Mayor Najdek ran unopposed while former Trustee and former longtime North East town Supervisor Sherman, a Republican, ran in a three-way race against political newcomer but frequent meeting attendee Brooks, a Democrat, and political newcomer and recent resident Kerr, also a Democrat. 

Najdek was cross-endorsed by both the Republicans and the Democrats, as was Kerr, while Sherman ran on the Independent and Republican lines.

Both positions are two-year terms, which begin Tuesday, July 6, and run through June 1, 2023.

Elections were held from noon until 9 p.m. at the Village Offices at 5933 North Elm Ave. (Route 22), since Village Hall is currently closed due to structural concerns and the Nutrition Center not available for voting.

The unofficial results were posted online, at www.villageofmillerton.net, on Wednesday, June 16. When first posted, Kerr and Sherman were in the lead for the two trustee seats. However, as of Tuesday, June 22, the day this paper heads to press, Kerr had the lead and Brooks and Sherman were tied for the second trustee position. 

“I’m delighted to be on the board and looking forward to working with the other members of the board and the people of Millerton,” Kerr said.

Najdek said she is “looking forward to finding out” who has been elected. Once the second trustee is determined, she said she is excited to coming up with “a plan of action for the village and moving forward.”

A runoff election for the remaining village trustee position will be held on Tuesday, July 6, from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Offices at 5593 North Elm Ave. (Route 22) between Sherman and Brooks. All of the same criteria must be met for this election, with voters registered in the village of Millerton being eligible to cast their ballots.