Aidan Carter of Gloversville votes Tuesday in Gloversville city elections, where a race for mayor was one of the few contested choices on the ballot. Carter graduated from college six months ago, but is still looking for a job in computer and information science, which he said is tough in Gloversville.

Fulton County election inspector David Hess helps Anthony Perna of Johnstown file his ballot Tuesday. Perna supported the idea of having an elected city treasurer, even after he learned that incumbent Thomas Herr was charged last week with stealing more than $6,000 in city payments.

Julia Green, right, and Rose Collins sign in to vote at the United Presbyterian Church in Amsterdam on Tuesday.

Voters leave after casting their ballots at the former St. John the Evangelist School in Schenectady on Tuesday.

Voters cast their ballots at the former St. John the Evangelist School in Schenectady on Tuesday.

Rose Collins, left, and Julia Green cast their ballots at United Presbyterian Church in Amsterdam on Tuesday.

Voters fill out ballots inside Saratoga Springs City Center in Saratoga Springs on Tuesday.

Kerry D'Agostino inserts her ballot into a scanner as Willow, 3, looks on with 6-month-old Rowan observing inside Saratoga Springs City Center in Saratoga Springs on Tuesday.

A voter inserts a ballot into an election scanner inside Saratoga Springs City Center in Saratoga Springs on Tuesday.

A voter fills out a ballot inside Saratoga Springs City Center in Saratoga Springs on Tuesday.

Election inspector Lucille Koch of Saratoga Springs checks in a voter inside Saratoga Springs City Center in Saratoga Springs, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.

SCHENECTADY — Voters throughout the region got the chance Tuesday to weigh in a series of consequential local races on a blustery election day.

If the Even Year Election Law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2023 survives court challenges, Tuesday’s ballot could be the last time that local races in the area are held on odd years, with the state hoping to align local races with national and statewide elections including presidential and Congressional contests to increase voter turnout.

Johnstown

In Fulton County, Anthony Perna was unaware, walking out of the Johnstown Senior Center, that the incumbent he had just voted for to continue as the Johnstown city treasurer in an unopposed race has been charged with felonies, accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the city.

And while he conceded he might have changed his vote in the uncontested race, he wouldn’t change his mind about a related proposition to convert the position to one the mayor appoints.

It’s all about accountability, he said, and the treasurer should be accountable to the voters. “He should be elected,” said Perna, of Leto Lane. “The people should have a choice about who their officials are in government.”

He added, however, he would have appreciated Thomas Herr’s name being removed from the ballot. Herr was charged Oct. 28 with single counts of third-degree grand larceny and first-degree falsifying business records, felonies; and official misconduct, a misdemeanor.

Herr was accused of stealing $6,000 in payments to the city, and mis-recording thousands of dollars in other payments, police said. The investigation began in August after the New York State and Local Retirement System told the city it had missed more than $1.57 million in payments, resulting in fines to the city of $23,600.

Herr resigned that day from the post he was elected to in 2021, and Mayor Amy Praught said he told her he would not serve, even if re-elected.

Gloversville

A few miles away, Aiden Carter stepped out of the Gloversville Community Center. He graduated from SUNY-Polytechnic last May and has been looking for a job ever since. It was foremost in his mind as he filled out the ballot.

“It’s been a little tough,” he said. “I’ve lived here my entire life. There’s not a lot of jobs at the moment,” particularly in computer information systems.

He liked many of the downtown improvements made during the tenure of outgoing Mayor Vincent DeSantis, but the improvement needs to spread.

“A lot of other areas have been forgotten about,” Carter said.

In Gloversville, GOP nominee Gary Antonucci is facing off against Honest Party candidate Matt Capano in the race to succeed DeSantis.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam voters went to the polls to decide whether to maintain the existing slate of aldermen or whether to shake up the Common Council by electing up to three challengers.

All five incumbents sought reelection, with Ward 4 Alderman Christopher Carpenter, a Democrat, and Ward 2 Alderman Rich Holoday, a Republican, running unopposed.

On Election Day, incumbent Ward 1 Alderwoman Kelly Quist-Demars and incumbent Ward 3 Alderwoman Irene Collins, both Democrats, greeted voters across the street from the polling place at the Century Club to stay beyond the 100-foot electioneering boundary.

“It’s a great way to just say hi and to thank people for voting,” Quist-Demars said. “I’m not here to push anything, but just to let people know that I’m present and that I care and if they want to talk to me they could.”

Quist-Demars faced a challenge from John Brodie, on the Republican and Conservative lines, while Collins was challenged by Michael Carbone, on the Republican and Conservative lines.

Watching voters cross busy Division Street, Collins and Quist-Demars planned to brainstorm traffic-calming measures in between chats with constituents.

“It’s always good to be out to see the people and let them know we care,” Collins said.

A brisk pace was kept at the polling place for multiple election districts with around 100 voters casting ballots for each ward by late morning.

“It’s exciting. I’ve never seen it this busy this early,” Collins said.

A pair of Ward 1 voters said they cast their ballots for Brodie citing his background and his potential to bring a fresh perspective to the council.

“He’s my neighbor. I believe in him. Great family. And he sticks to what he believes in,” Eileen Oakes said.

“He’s a great person, and I think he’ll do wonders for a change,” Camille Panasiuk said. “I just think a new set of eyes is a good thing. New eyes, new thoughts and new processes.”

Elsewhere in Amsterdam, incumbent Ward 5 Alderman James Martuscello, a Democrat, and his opponent, Patrick Taft, a Conservative, were each greeting voters outside of the polling place at William Barkley Elementary School.

Niskayuna

Niskayuna voters flocked to town hall Tuesday to cast their ballots in a hotly-contested supervisor’s race, with Democratic incumbent Erin........

© The Leader Herald