Published: November 04, 2009 12:00 am      

One challenger wins for Otsego board

One challenger for the Otsego County Board of Representatives won Tuesday. Democrat Linda Rowinski defeated incumbent Republican Scott Harrington in a race for the District 13 seat on the Otsego County Board of Representatives.

The district comprises the city of Oneonta’s Fifth and Sixth wards.

In unofficial totals posted by the Otsego County Board of Elections, Rowinski garnered 298 votes to Harrington’s 217.

Harrington, who won in a three-way race two years ago, had been seeking a second term.

After hearing the results Tuesday, he congratulated his opponent.

``You win some and lose some,’’ said Harrington, who chairs the county Human Services Committee.

Rowinski was apparently the only challenger to beat an incumbent, according to the unofficial tallies released Tuesday night.

In District 4, town of Oneonta, incumbent Democrat Richard Murphy, who was seeking a second term, beat Republican Janet Hurley-Quackenbush, a member of the town’s council, 703 votes to 527 votes.

In District 6, representing Worcester, Westford, Decatur and Maryland, incumbent Republican Donald Lindberg, chairman of the Otsego Manor Committee, defeated Republican challenger John Imperato, 927 votes to 351 votes.

Imperato is the president of CSEA Local 8100.

In District 12, city of Oneonta, incumbent Democrat Cathy Rothenberger defeated Republican Craig Gelbsman, an Oneonta businessman, 250 votes to 145 votes.

The race in District 10, Edmeston, Burlington, Exeter and Plainfield, was close, with incumbent Republican Betty Anne Schwerd edging Democrat Keith Carpenter, 458 votes to 442 votes.

Schwerd chairs the county’s Intergovernmental Affairs Committee.

According to the Otsego County Board of Elections, the margin in the District 10 race, 16 votes, is less than the number of absentee ballots received as of Tuesday, 27.

If the results remain the same after absentee and other papers ballots are counted next week, the Democrats will have gained one seat on the board, having five to the Republicans’ nine when board members are seated in January.