County clerk race heading to a recount; challenger leads by 83 votes

The Onondaga County clerk election between Democrat Emily Essi and Republican incumbent Lisa Dell is too close to call Tuesday night.

Essi leads by just 83 votes, according to Onondaga County Board of Elections unofficial results. Outstanding absentee ballots will determine the outcome.

The small vote margin triggers an automatic hand count of all ballots countrywide, according to Democratic Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny.

State law requires the recount when candidates are separated by less than 0.5% of the vote.

Essi declared victory on Tuesday night at the Democratic watch party at Nibsy’s Pub in the Tipperary Hill neighborhood of Syracuse.

“We feel really good about the numbers right now. We are up and we won,” said Essi.

Josh Ludden, Essi’s campaign manager, said that their confidence is based on the pattern of absentee ballots that have been counted favoring her 2,274-1,435.

If the recount and outstanding absentee ballots confirm Essi’s win, she will replace Republican candidate Lisa Dell, who has held the clerk position since 2016.

This is Essi’s first time running for a public office. She works at Home HeadQuarters.

Dell served as a Baldwinsville police officer from 1989 to 2009. She was also Lysander town clerk from 2010 to 2015 before starting her stint as county clerk.

Watchdog/Public Affairs reporter Melissa Newcomb covers education, including Syracuse University and the city schools. For tips, contact her anytime at [email protected], 315-679-1068, or @melissarnewcomb on Twitter.