Passarell wins Albion Town Supervisor position by eight votes

ALBION – Absentee ballots were counted this morning to determine the winner of last week’s election for Albion Town Supervisor. After polling finished on Nov. 5, Jake Olles was ahead of Matt Passarell by 1 vote, 476-475. There were 48 absentee ballots still to be opened to determine the winner.

Twenty-eight of the absentee ballots went to Passarell and 19 to Olles. The final count stands at Matt Passarell with 503 votes; Jake Olles with 495 votes.

Both candidates are town councilmen who were vying to replace Dennis Stirk, who did not seek another two-year term. Stirk backed Deputy Town Supervisor Jake Olles, who was endorsed by the Democratic Party. Olles also ran under the independent “No Bull” party. Town Councilman Matt Passarell, campaigned with endorsements from the Republican and Conservative parties.

Passarell will take over as town supervisor on Jan. 1. Olles will be on the board as a Town Councilman. The two are on the town board together and often cast opposing votes. Passarell says he hopes the two can work together to do good for the town and its taxpayers.

“I’ll extend the olive branch out there and go from there,” Passarell said after the final votes were counted. “We’ll always be professional.”

Passarell, at 34, will be the youngest Town Supervisor in the county by about two decades. An Iraq War veteran, Passarell works in the quality department for Baxter International in Medina.

Olles is a sergeant at Attica Correctional Facility.