Pine Plains Town Supervisor Brian Walsh won re-election by eight votes, according to the Dutchess County Board of Elections after a state-mandated hand recount on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
Walsh, a Republican who also serves as the town’s fire chief, got 427 votes to his Democratic challenger Kevin Walsh’s 419. The candidates are not related.
The recount was required under New York law, which mandates a manual count in any race decided by fewer than 20 votes. Both candidates picked up votes during the review, but the final outcome remained unchanged from the initial count after the Nov. 4 balloting
Walsh’s new term begins Jan. 1. A recent New York State Court of Appeals decision shifted all local elections to even-numbered years, meaning officials elected this cycle will serve shortened terms. Town supervisors elected in 2025 will serve one year, with another election in 2026; board members will serve three years, with their next election in 2028.
Brian Walsh, who will be the sole Republican along with four Democrats on the board, said he is ready to move ahead now that the results are certified.
“It’s business as normal,” he said. “We’re going to move forward and continue progressing on making plans to make things better for everybody.”
Kevin Walsh, who will continue serving on the Town Board, expressed a similar sentiment of unity.
“We both ran our campaigns the best that we could, and, in the end, he [Brian] won,” he said. “It is now time for the town to get behind him and for the board to stand up for itself as a functioning unit that can proceed forward and help the town.”
He added that he plans to keep working on issues he campaigned on, including wastewater planning and improving the town’s website.
“We are optimistic that we can get together as a team and figure our way through the needs of the town,” he said.
The race drew heightened attention after Election Day, when nine votes separated the candidates and 21 absentee, military, and affidavit ballots remained outstanding.