A town's reaction to electing man who died a month ago
CHESTER -- Tuesday's election of Vincent Perry to the Chester Town Board left some residents puzzled Wednesday.
Perry, by all accounts well-liked, died more than a month before the election.
"I can't imagine myself why people were voting for someone deceased," said Robert Stetson, who was having lunch at the Deer Crossing restaurant. "They must have voted straight Republican. I can't believe they didn't know (he had died)."
Perry, who was a political newcomer, beat incumbent Barbara Repp, 259-214, winning one of two Town Board seats. Edna Wells, also an incumbent, won the other available seat with 484 votes.
The Town Board will now have to appoint someone to replace Perry until another election is held in November 2006.
When Perry died Oct. 5, it was too late to remove his name from the ballot.
But, Josh Smith, who was shopping at Stewart's, said he doubted people were unaware they were voting for a dead man. Smith was Perry's next door neighbor.
"Everyone knew," he said. "I'm not sure why they would do that."
The unusual election results were fodder for lunchtime conversation at the Deer Crossing.
"We were just talking about that. I think people probably voted a party, not a person," said Barbara Ciota, who served as an election inspector.
"I thought it was maybe a show of support for the person," Teddi Pereau said. "He was very well liked in the community."
Perry was a former Warren County Public Works employee and served with the Pottersville and Chestertown volunteer fire departments, as well as the Chestertown Emergency Squad.
Perry's niece, Rachael DuRose, who was shopping at Tops market, had an explanation for his posthumous victory.
"I think it was a respect issue," she said. "He was just a wonderful man, and I wanted to show him that last bit of respect."
She said her family was thrilled Perry had won. She hoped the Town Board would choose one of his backers to replace him.
She was surprised at the attention the election was getting.
"I didn't think it would be such a big deal," she said.
Perry, by all accounts well-liked, died more than a month before the election.
"I can't imagine myself why people were voting for someone deceased," said Robert Stetson, who was having lunch at the Deer Crossing restaurant. "They must have voted straight Republican. I can't believe they didn't know (he had died)."
Perry, who was a political newcomer, beat incumbent Barbara Repp, 259-214, winning one of two Town Board seats. Edna Wells, also an incumbent, won the other available seat with 484 votes.
The Town Board will now have to appoint someone to replace Perry until another election is held in November 2006.
When Perry died Oct. 5, it was too late to remove his name from the ballot.
But, Josh Smith, who was shopping at Stewart's, said he doubted people were unaware they were voting for a dead man. Smith was Perry's next door neighbor.
"Everyone knew," he said. "I'm not sure why they would do that."
The unusual election results were fodder for lunchtime conversation at the Deer Crossing.
"We were just talking about that. I think people probably voted a party, not a person," said Barbara Ciota, who served as an election inspector.
"I thought it was maybe a show of support for the person," Teddi Pereau said. "He was very well liked in the community."
Perry was a former Warren County Public Works employee and served with the Pottersville and Chestertown volunteer fire departments, as well as the Chestertown Emergency Squad.
Perry's niece, Rachael DuRose, who was shopping at Tops market, had an explanation for his posthumous victory.
"I think it was a respect issue," she said. "He was just a wonderful man, and I wanted to show him that last bit of respect."
She said her family was thrilled Perry had won. She hoped the Town Board would choose one of his backers to replace him.
She was surprised at the attention the election was getting.
"I didn't think it would be such a big deal," she said.
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