During village elections Wednesday, several area incumbents were defeated and huge voter turnout was seen in Delhi, Walton and Hobart.
On Thursday, the process of transition began.
In Delhi, Mayor David Truscott was defeated by Rich Maxey by a vote of 229 to 83.
Truscott congratulated Maxey in a written statement Thursday, and added that he wants to make the transition as smooth and pleasant as possible.
"Mr. Maxey and I have already had a very amicable conversation in which I pledged my active cooperation and he responded positively to my offer," Truscott wrote.
Truscott said he would gladly explain all projects and issues the village is engaged in, and give hints as to where the "skeletons" are hidden.
"I have been mayor for only six years, but it has also been a very rewarding stage of my life," Truscott wrote. "There are new issues to deal with every day and a few old ones that seem never to quite get resolved."
Maxey said Thursday that he is "ecstatic and elated. I'm very pleased with the turnout and it appears that the mandate, like with the presidential election is change, change, change."
Maxey said he thinks the more than 300 residents voted the way they did because they are tired of the friction between the village and the town governments.
"It was one of the biggest voter turnouts we have had in years," Maxey said. "We are one community. This is rural America. We all know our neighbors.
"I am not looking to make radical changes," he continued, "but the lawsuit over the Woolerton Street Bridge has to stop."
In Walton, a six-way mayoral race brought more than 600 people to the polls. In the end, Mayor Ed Snow, who had previously decided not to seek re-election, was returned to office with 215 write-in votes.
"I guess it was an upset," Snow said Thursday. "If you win an election when you are not on the ballot, it has to be considered an upset, and it has never been done before."
Snow said he believes that "the silent majority were not displeased by the way things were going and wanted me to stay in office."
He said more than 100 people approached him before the election and asked if he would accept the nomination if they wrote his name in.
"They didn't want to waste their votes," Snow said. "So I said I would be willing to serve again."
In Hobart, Aaron Kaufman defeated Mayor Kenneth Brockway by a margin of 81 to 66.
"I am excited and looking forward to the challenge," Kaufman said of his new position. "It was one of the biggest voter turnouts we have ever had, and I think a lot of people were looking to see the village move forward."
In Stamford, first-term Mayor Anne Slatin lost her seat by nine votes to Michael Jacobs. The tally was 137 to 128.
Jacobs said in a written statement, "I wish to express my sincere thanks to everyone in the village of Stamford who came out to vote. We all share in a common concern for our village.
"I want to hear from all those who are interested in the future of Stamford," Jacobs continued.
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Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.
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