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Democrats appear to have taken control of the Monroe County Legislature for the first time in more than 30 years.

Unofficial absentee and affidavit counts, tabulated Monday, pushed two Democratic incumbents into the lead who had trailed their Republican challengers on election night, and solidified Democratic candidate Dave Long's victory over Legislature President Dr. Joe Carbone, R-Irondequoit.

The result would be a slim 15-14 Democratic majority come Jan. 1, replacing a similar margin for Republicans. But the matter is more complicated, as a handful of disaffected city Democrats had previously joined with the GOP to deliver a super majority in overriding Democrat County Executive Adam Bello's vetoes on multiple occasions.

More on the election: Monroe County Election 2021: Why did the Republicans sue, what it means and what's next?

More: 5 takeaways from the 2021 Monroe County elections

The primaries eliminated the breakaway faction save for one, Legislator Sabrina LaMar. Reached Monday night, LaMar said she was still weighing her options, and that the Democratic caucus had not yet reached out.

"I don't know what moving forward looks like as of now," LaMarsaid.

Republicans seemed poised to retain control in initial results reflecting early and Election Day voting.

Turnout was about 38% countywide; hovering around 17% in the city challenging either party to claim amandate or statement by the electorate.

Still, Monroe County Democratic Party chairman Zach King said the upending of the Republican majority in the Legislature, and Carbone's apparent defeatdid send a message that "playing politics with government functions" is not to be tolerated: "I think people just want to see government work."

With Democrats in control both of city and county government, there can be no excuses.

"It's time to put up or shut up," King said."It is time for us to make sure we are delivering on these promises."

The last time Democrats had a majority was in the late 1980s, but it was short lived. Voters rejected a referendum on a redistricting in 1991, and Republicans retook the majority a year later.

A lot hinges on LaMar.The Legislature races that turned with absentee and affidavit ballots were those of incumbent Democrat Michael Yudelson in Henrietta and Minority Leader Yversha Roman in the city.

There remain several dozen ballots to be hand counted, be it they were damaged and could not be scanned or had other special circumstances. Those will be tabulated on Tuesday. There is a possibility of an automatic recount in the county court judge race, where three seats were up and incumbent Democrat Douglas Randall edged into that third spot with the latest totals.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact reporter Brian Sharp at bdsharp@gannett.comor at 585-258-2275. Follow him onTwitter @sharproc.This coverage is only possible with support from our readers.

Link:
Dems on verge of seizing control of Monroe County Legislature; first time in 30 years - Democrat & Chronicle