The general election earlier this month went smoothly, despite a couple bumps in the road, according to Oswego County’s two elections commissioners. The bumps, however, were greatly magnified due to the intense scrutiny focused on the special election for the 23rd Congressional District, which was held in conjunction with the regular general election.

Doug Hoffman conceded defeat on Tuesday but predicted he won’t lose in 2010.

You heard that right: The Conservative Party candidate for Congress this year will run again next year. “I promise to help restore our nation’s faith in elected officials when we win,” he said in a letter posted on his website.

Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate, barely won the fight for absentee votes in Oswego County. He beat Owens among absentees, 544 to 534. Dede Scozzafava, the Republican who dropped out of the race on the weekend before the election and, a day later, endorsed Owens, pulled 204 absentees.

I respectfully request an apology to me and to all of our Oswego County Election Inspectors, the Oswego County Election Commissioners, and Oswego County Board of Election staff, both Democrat and Republican for making these outrageous charges against us.

Freshman Congressman Bill Owens will have a seat at the table that decides major issues such as military policy and national security. Meantime, the opponent who conceded defeat on election night now takes it all back, alleges ACORN tried to steal the election, and wants supporters to send him money for the fight.

Absentee ballot totals were announced Tuesday in four of the eleven counties that make up the 23rd Congressional Disrrict.

The result: Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman narrowed the gap with Democrat Doug Owens by just 214 votes as the results from Oneida, Madison, Hamilton and Fulton counties came in.

Doug Hoffman takes it back.

With the margin of votes between him and Democratic candidate for Congress Bill Owens shrinking, he told conservative radio and TV talk host Glenn Beck Monday that “if I knew this information at the election night, I would not have conceded.”

Did Doug Hoffman give up too soon?

At least one of his campaign staffers thinks that might be true, after revised numbers show the race for Congress is closer than it appeared to be on Election Night.

So, the question: Can Hoffman still win after all the absentee ballots are counted?

Democrat Bill Owens confounded the experts and defied more than a century of history as he won the three way race for Congress from Oswego County and the North Country.

With about 80% of votes counted, Owens held about a 4,000 vote lead.  There are as many as 11,000 absentee ballots yet to be counted and a handful of voting locations across the district had their voting machines sealed for hand counts beginning today.

Scozzafava gave in to the reality of polls, the most recent of which was revealed on Saturday, showing Democrat Bill Owens and Conservative Doug Hoffman in a virtual tie.  She also obviously gave in to the will of her party, which appears to have decided that if she can’t win, then Hoffman must.

The Fulton District Wide Storytelling Festival was held and storytellers from throughout the district showcased their talents in telling a wide variety of stories. Participants told a folktale, fairytale, myth, legend, tall tale or fable. The stories ranged from spooky legends to hilarious tales and many had a useful moral attached that provided a bit [...]

Parents: Get your social life back on track! Go out “guilt-free” and have fun knowing that your children are not just waiting for you by the TV — but are having fun too!

Happy New Year to all of our readers in the tri-county region!
While our Richland facility is closed until April, the society is still active with Friday afternoon hours at the Barclay Court House in Pulaski (2nd floor over DMV, 2pm until 5) or by appointment. We got off to a rocky start following our [...]