Erie County Elections Commissioner Ralph Mohr says based on this week's canvass of the primary election, it is "highly improbable" there will be any change to last Tuesday's results. Two of the closest contests were the Democratic races for Erie County Sheriff and for the 1st District representative in the County Legislature.
In the sheriff's race, Richard Dobson led Bert Dunn by about 700 votes following the initial count. With more than three-quarters of the canvass complete, Mohr says Dunn has picked up only around 90 absentee ballot votes.
"With the remaining ballots left to be opened it's very improbable that Bert Dunn would be able to overtake a 700 vote lead, which is now about 600 votes," Mohr told WBFO News.
Dobson will go on to face incumbent Sheriff Timothy Howard, a Republican, in November's general election.
In the 1st District, Barbara Miller-Williams has added to her 20-vote lead over incumbent Timothy Hogues. Miller-Williams picked up around 30 absentee ballots in this week's canvass, which is about 90% complete.
"We do not believe that there are enough ballots remaining unopened to overturn the results of the winner in that race," said Mohr, the county's Republican elections commissioner.
Patrick Burke has also added to his lead in the South Buffalo 7th District, where he had a three percent advantage over Lynn Dearmyer on primary night, and now appears to be the clear winner.
Mohr says the canvass will continue Friday, Monday and Tuesday. He says he expects the election will be certified by the middle of next week.
