Cortland County voters decide at the polls, 3,753 to 3,219, to approve reducing the size of the Cortland County Legislature to 15 from 17 seats, par of its mandatory redistricting to take effect with the 2027 election.
Among the changes, the new districts would:
•Partner Scott and Preble, with part of northern Homer.
•Partner Marathon with Lapeer, with a sliver of eastern Virgil.
•Partners the rest of Virgil with Harford.
•Cluster Solon, Truxton and Cuyler in a district with a fringe of eastern Homer.
•Create a single district in the village of Homer, surrounded by a district that includes western Homer and part of north central Cortlandville.
•Divide Cortlandville among four districts, up from three. The fourth district extends southwest from the city of Cortland.
•Divide the city of Cortland between six districts, down from seven.
Redistricting is required by the U.S. Constitution every 10 years, following the U.S. Census, to allow equitable representation in county government. The next census will take place in 2030, after which the district map will be redrawn again.
Keep judge, C-ville voters say
Cortlandville voters decided, 537-811 in complete but unofficial tallies, to keep one of the town’s two part-time justice positions.
A lawsuit may negate the vote that put it on the ballot, but the result renders the point moot.
Justice MaryBeth Mathey has filed an Article 78 proceeding in state Supreme Court, alleging the Cortlandville Town Board met in violation of state Open Meetings law to discuss whether to put the measure to eliminate her job on the ballot.
If her suit fails, the decision at the polls would stand — keeping her position. If it succeeds, it would nullify the town board’s vote, and thereby the election.
Town officials have said the referendum is a cost-cutting measure. Mathey says the move is retaliation for her refusal to allow Town Attorney John DelVecchio to evict tenants from rental properties during a state-imposed moratorium on evictions during the coronavirus pandemic.
State, Virgil, Cincy have referendums
Cortland County voters face a number of propositions on their ballots:
All voters saw two statewide referendums:
•To amend Article 8, Section 4 of the state constituion to remove a constitutional debt limit now placed on small-city school districts, like Cortland’s, so they’ll be treated like other districts. The state tally was 907,729 to 462,865 with 8,380 of 13,255 districts reporting. Locally, the Cortland County tally was 4,266 to 2,699 in complete but unofficial results.
•To amend Article 8, Section 5 of the state constitution to extend to 10 years the exclusion for municipalities from constitutional debt limits for sewage facilities. The state tally was 951,180 to 413,217 with 8,389 of 13,305 districts reporting. Locally, the Cortland County tally was 4,274 to 2,595 in complete tallies.
Cincinnatus voters have two more propositions, extending the terms of office for the town supervisor and the town clerk to four years from two years. They were adopted, 93-75 and 99-69, respectively.
Virgil voters have a proposition asking whether the town can allowed charitable organizations to operate raffles and other games of chance as fundraisers.
Cayuga County contested seats
• Kristine A. Lytle, nominated by the Conservative and Experience Matters parties, with 4,455 votes, and Republican Christopher K. Petrus, with 4,249, were behind to Democrat and Cayuga County United nominee Brian Scanlon for county clerk at 11:30 p.m.. He had 6,450 votes. The winner would succeed Cayuga County Clerk Sue Dwyer.
• Incumbent Legislator Hans-Peter Pecher, the Republican and Conservative nominee, led Kevin Fitzgerald, nominated by the Democratic and Cayuga County United parties, in the 6th Legislative District at 11:30 p.m.. The tally was 675-651.
