SULLIVAN COUNTY — While write-in candidates made a lot of noise at the polls in Sullivan County in Tuesday's election, write-in campaigns across the county did not yield victory.

Voter turnout in Sullivan County overall was at 28.96 percent, with Highland on the higher end at 48.73 percent and Fallsburg on the lower end at 18.06 percent. Tusten had a voter turnout of 34 percent, and Bethel was at 38.06 percent.

Two issues of contention were development and public safety across the county, and a theme for this odd-year election was that of write-in campaigns. Speaking at the polls, candidates and their supporters emphasized stagnation and the need for change.

A write-in candidate is one whose name voters fill in despite not appearing on the ballot.

In Fallsburg, Yoranda Sanabria spoke to the River Reporter while she snacked on some fries. She stated she was running for village trustee in Woodridge as a write-in candidate. She stated she worked medical work from home.

That race saw Carl Lomnitz (30.85%) and Celia Avadyaeu (30.03%) find success, with 9.64% of the votes going to write-in candidates. 

Many of the candidates and campaign representatives had been there since early in the morning and planned on staying until the polls closed.

Josh Druckman ran as Town of Fallsburg town council on a write-in campaign, running on a ticket with friends Dara Manzi and Brett Budde.

Druckman said it was “[time] to take control of the Town of Fallsburg board and make some long overdue changes and put the town in the right direction.”

Manzi told the River Reporter the three were out campaigning as concerned citizens. She said that they had seen a good response from the community, with people agreeing with their platform.

The Town of Fallsburg council members that tentatively won are Michael Bensimon and Miranda Behan at 24.43 percent and 27.28 percent, respectively. Other results for write-in candidates are still being determined, which could potentially change the results of the election.

Jake Gore, a Tim Dymond supporter speaking outside the Bethel polling station, said, “I'm out here supporting Tim Dymond because he is the future of law enforcement."

“He will help protect residents of the county. There needs to be a change. There needs to be more of an emphasis on policing and public service. Getting the department accredited and let it follow some structure, some policy and procedures because right now there are none. It’s a big deal for the taxpayers and family here in the county,” said Gore.

Another voter as she walked out of the polling site said, “Sullivan County is a sh*thole under Sheriff Schiff. I grew up here.”

Kim Martin, a Dymond supporter at a Fallsburg voting site, told the River Reporter she stood out there today to end the "corruption" in Sullivan County. "The good old boys have been running this county for years, way before me, and we need change," she said. 

Tentative results show Incumbent Sheriff Michael A. Schiff won the election with around 64 percent of the vote, while Tim Dymond lost at close to 36 percent with 4,742 of the votes as a write-in candidate.  

The River Reporter spoke to Cliff Manning, a candidate for Town of Bethel Town Board, at the Duggan voter polling site. 

The town needs to “allow what we think we can handle versus going overboard. We have to think about emergency systems as well,” he said, referring to a moratorium on development being discussed for the town. 

Town of Bethel council members William Crumley and Adam L. Gold won at about 25 percent and 27 percent, respectively. 

Editor's note: This article as initially published included incorrect information about Dymond supporter Jake Gore; that has been corrected as of 12:30 pm on Monday, Nov. 10.