No candidates in some Otsego County races

Oct. 16—Up for election next month is an open seat for Decatur town supervisor and two town board seats.

No candidates have filed to run for any of the three offices.

What happens now? Can there be an election without candidates?

The offices still will appear on the Nov. 7 ballot with the option to write in a candidate, according to the Otsego County elections commissioners Democrat Michael Henrici and Republican Lori Lehenbauer.

In a phone conversation Monday, Oct. 16 that involved both commissioners, Lehenbauer said that in February, the municipal clerks certify the offices that will appear on the ballot.

Designating petitions are accepted from April 3-10 from all parties. In May, independents can file independent nominating petitions with their own party name.

Lehenbauer said that occasionally no one will any petitions for some offices, in which case the offices will still appear on ballot since they have been certified, and voter can write in the name of a candidate.

In the unlikely case of no petitioning or write-in candidate is elected, Henrici said that a failure to elect ends the county Board of Elections' involvement.

Town officials would consult an attorney to see what their options are.

Lehenbauer added that just because a person is elected as a write-in, that person may not want to serve and could decline to take the oath of office.

In Decatur — population 353 as of the 2010 Census — Town Clerk Fred Kersman said Monday that the same issue cropped up two years ago when there were no candidates for the open council seats.

Decatur operates with four-member town board.

That problem was solved with write-in candidates, and Kersman, who's been town clerk for six years, said he's confident there will be write-ins this year.

"It's scary to see that on the county website, no candidates running, but we're going to be just fine," he said. "I don't think we're going to have a problem this fall."

There are a few other offices that will appear on the ballot with no candidates:

* Edmeston Town Justice

* Exeter Clerk/Collector

* Pittsfield Clerk Collector, unexpired term

* Westford Town Justice

Sample ballots for the upcoming election are available to view on the county website, www.otsegocounty.com, on the Board of Elections page.

Oct. 23 is the last day to postmark voter registration by mail and Oct. 28 is the last day to register to vote in person at the Board of Elections.

To check voter registration status, visit voterlookup.elections.ny.gov.