MacCartney Holds off Lee to Remain Upper Nyack Village Justice

The annual Upper Nyack Village elections were highlighted by higher than usual voter turnout and a closely contested race for Village Justice.

Election night in Clarkstown’s only incorporated village featured the expected and unexpected. There was little intrigue in the races for Mayor and the two Village Trustee seats available. Incumbent Mayor Michael Esmay, along with current Trustees Vincent Morgan and Jeffrey Hindin, all representing the Bell Tower Party, ran unopposed. The Mayor and Trustees were each re-elected to two-year terms.

What might have been surprising to some was the increased voter turnout, which culminated in a tight battle for Village Justice. Incumbent Bell Tower Party candidate Harold MacCartney narrowly defeated Republican challenger Duncan Lee by a 129-103 tally. MacCartney was re-elected to a four-year term.

More than 220 residents took part in Tuesday’s election. Election inspectors began revealing results at precisely 9 p.m. when polls closed. A small, but enthusiastic crowd, led by Esmay, Morgan and Village Clerk Carol Brotherhood gathered at Village Hall to hear the results. After 45 minutes of counting and double checking, officials declared all incumbents would be returning to office.

The turnout impressed Esmay and Morgan. Esmay said most elections typically do not bring out that many residents. The Mayor said, in some cases, participation has only totaled 50 voters.

Esmay credited the turnout to the Village Justice race in which both candidates worked hard and actively campaigned.

“This election brought about a higher than usual voter turnout,” Morgan said. “I believe the race for Village Justice had a lot to do with it.”