BY SCOTT LEFFLER
scott.leffler@eastniagarapost.com

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Although election day has come and gone, the race for 2nd Ward Alderman won't be decided until late next week.

As far as votes cast on Tuesday, Mullane bested Republican Patrick Feeley with 556 votes to Feeley's 534, a 22-vote lead for the Democrat. However, there are 75 absentee ballots remaining to be counted — a task that won't be completed until Thursday morning.

Of those 75 absentee ballots, 45 were filed by registered Republicans, while only 20 were filed by Democrats, according to the Niagara County Board of Elections. There were cast by registered Conservatives, four from people registered with the Independence Party and another three from voters with no affiliation.

The seat is currently being held by Republican Ron Franco, who was appointed when fellow Republican Anne McCaffrey ascended to the mayorship after Mike Tucker's resignation earlier this year.
If votes broke purely by party affiliation, Feeley would take the seat. Taking into account Feeley's minor party lines — Conservative and Independence — Feeley would have 586 votes to Mullanes 576. Even in Mullane got all three non-affiliated voters, that would only give her 579 votes. However, votes don't always break by party affiliation and more often than not, absentee ballots fall in line — percentage wise — with the "live" votes cast.
"It's my understanding that he's bringing legal counsel, so I am also," she said, but added that she doesn't foresee any legal problems. "A lot of candidates have gone through this."

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