Categories: News, Saratoga County, Schenectady County

Niskayuna Town Supervisor Yasmine Syed on Tuesday was re-elected to a second two-year term in office.

Republican Syed received 3,818 votes, according to unofficial figures provided late in the evening by the Schenectady County Board of Elections, to best Democratic challenger Lisa J. Weber’s total of 2,757.

The numbers equaled about 58% for Syed and about 42% for Weber.

Victories by William McPartlon and Rosemarie Perez Jaquith ensured the Town Board will remain all-Democrat. Incumbent McPartlon earned 3,393 votes, while Jaquith—running for the seat vacated by Weber as she ran for supervisor—received 3,788 votes.

Republicans Anthony M. Simone and Jerome D. Chao received 2,613 and 2,469 votes, respectively.

Thomas W. Hodgkins, running on the Green Party line, received 177 votes.

More: Election roundup: Capital Region race results 2019

In the race for town clerk, Democrat incumbent Michele M. Martinelli defeated Republican challenger Diane P. O’Donnell. Martinelli earned 3,677 votes to O’Donnell’s total of 2,833.

Town Justice Stephen F. Swinton Jr. ran unopposed.

Syed, reached late Tuesday at the Waters Edge Lighthouse—where local Republicans gathered to watch election results—said she was honored to continue to lead the town of her birth.

“To build upon all the successes of my first term, and to keep moving Niskayuna forward, it’s all I ever wanted,” she said. “I’m so pleased the residents of our town are allowing me to continue.”

Syed, who also won Conservative and independent party endorsements, said she believed the final vote total reflected what she was feeling as she campaigned.

“I covered a lot of ground. I hit a lot of doors,” she said. “When I was interacting personally with everybody, I had that sense. I had such positive reinforcement that I was doing a wonderful job. Everyone was so pleased with how they felt the community was moving forward, and so I was always feeling positive.

“Tonight, I’m so glad to know that I’m really making a difference in the town where I was born and raised,” Syed added.

Syed was a political newcomer when she defeated 10-year incumbent Joe Landry in 2017.

Weber talked about the election last Thursday, after a Town Board meeting.

“I want to thank everybody who supported me in this endeavor and wish everybody who won the best in the next couple of years,” she said.

“I had a lot of support from some really good people, including Congressman (Paul) Tonko and Assemblyman (Phil) Steck and a good group of supporters here,” Weber added. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t successful but it’s been an honor and privilege to serve this town for the past four years as a council member.”

McPartlon is looking forward to his second term.

“I’m excited to continue to serve the town with integrity and honor like I have done in the past and look forward to four more years,” he said.

Jaquith said she was anxious to begin serving the Niskayuna residents. She also talked about the Town Board remaining a Democratic majority.

“Democratic values are important to me,” she said. “I think the people who voted … voted their values and I hope to represent those values.

More: Election roundup: Capital Region race results 2019

“I walked every day, every week since August,” Jaquith added. “It was really great meeting new people in Niskayuna and talking to them and hearing the issues that were important to them. I heard a lot about speeding and holding the line on taxes and investments in environmental initiatives, make Niskayuna more bikable, walkable, protect our green spaces.

“I feel really informed and I’ll be laser-focused on making sure those issues that are important to the residents … are the things I’ll bring forward and the things I’ll be focused on from day one.”

Contact Gazette reporter Jeff Wilkin at 518-395-3124 or at [email protected]