Both candidates in the race for Orangetown Supervisor filed lawsuits Friday according to Rockland County Elections Commissioner Kristen Stavisky.



Nearly three weeks after election day, matters are still not settled. Republican challenger Walter Wettje incumbent Andy Stewart, a Democrat, by 18 votes. Their cases will be heard by acting Supreme Court Judge Victor J. Alfieri, Jr. 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Rockland County Courthouse in New City.



The hearing will determine what is done with 54 uncounted absentee ballots. In each of those cases, Commissioners Stavisky and Louis Babcock were split in their rulings on whether or not the ballot should be counted.



Stavisky said the candidates could also challenge votes that have been counted. There is a batch of 52 ballots that were counted, but could be removed based on court rulings. She said there are also eight ballots she and Babcock both ruled should not be counted, but their decisions could be challenged.



Monday at 5 p.m. is the deadline for legal challenges to be filed regarding election results. The race for Clarkstown Highway Superintendent had been close before the town's absentee ballots were counted, but incumbent Republican Wayne Ballard's lead over Democratic challenger Denis Malone swelled to over 500 votes when the absentees were tallied.



For more on the process to this point, read these reports on Patch.