Buffalo, NY (WBEN) The race for Erie County Sheriff was too close to call for Democrat Kim Beaty to concede. But the margin was enough for Republicans to declare victory for John Garcia.
With all ballots counted from early voting and Tuesday, Garcia led Beaty by 5,000 votes, or 2.5%. Garcia gave a brief victory speech, thanking supporters, and saying "I look forward to protecting and serving all citizens of Erie County for the next four years."
Erie County GOP Chairman Karl Simmeth agrees, but notes Conservative Karen Healy-Case took some votes away from Garcia. "It hurt us a little bit, that's for sure. But when John won the primary and Karen refused to get off the line, that's the pill we had to swallow and John worked very hard," says Simmeth. "John has busted his butt for the past four months. John has raised $600,000 between the primary and general election. I back John 100%." Healy-Case suspended her campaign recently.
"Right now, it's just too close to call," says Erie County Democratic Chairman Jeremy Zellner. "We've got 19,000 requests for absentee ballots, we got more than 11,000 back to us with more to come. We want to count every ballot out there, so we want to make sure it's ready to be declared," says Zellner.
Zellner believes Beaty is most qualified for sheriff and could still end up as sheriff. "You've got affidavits, emergency ballots, who knows how they'll break with four people running for sheriff as well. So it's not a night where we need to concede. We'll count the ballots and see where we are (Wednesday)," explains Zellner.
Zellner believes with the money invested, there wasn't anything differently he could have done in the Beaty campaign. As for her no-show at Democratic headquarters Tuesday, "She was at an event with supporters, and she just at this point went home. I don't think she has any more obligation. She made her decision and we just move forward from here," says Zellner.
Absentee ballots are expected to be counted later this month.