In SCHENECTADY COUNTY, Samantha Miller-Herrera is on the verge of becoming the Democratic nominee for the upcoming Schenectady County Family Court judge election. She has taken an early lead in Tuesday’s primary for the sought-after ballot line, even though a significant number of absentee ballots are yet to be counted.
Despite the absence of Republican contenders for the seat in the November general election, Michael Godlewski, who came third in the Democratic primary, outperformed Miller-Herrera for the Conservative Party line, with a score of 284-73. Godlewski, a former Glenville Town Board member and the Conservative Party’s endorsed candidate earlier this year, has not yet decided whether he will continue his campaign if he fails to secure the Democratic ballot line.
Miller-Herrera garnered 2,026 votes, accounting for 39.3% of the total ballots cast in the Democratic primary, as per the unofficial election results released Tuesday night. All 49 election districts have reported their results. Jill Polk, the incumbent seeking a second 10-year term, secured the second-highest vote count with 1,642 votes, or 31.9% of the total.
Godlewski, 41, received 22.4% of the vote with 1,147 ballots in his favor, while Camille Siano Enders trailed in fourth place with just 327 votes, or 6.3% of the total.
Miller-Herrera, 41, was the county Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate in the closely monitored primary. She is expected to become the county’s next Family Court judge, a crucial role in one of the busiest courts that handles thousands of cases related to children and families each year, including child abuse, neglect, domestic violence, custody, and visitation issues.
For this race, a total of 1,141 absentee ballots were issued, with only 525 returned as of Tuesday’s primary, according to the Schenectady County Board of Elections.
The remaining absentee ballots postmarked by the June 25 primary will be counted in the following days, and the election results will be certified later this month.
Miller-Herrera, a former Rotterdam Town Board member, currently serves as the first deputy attorney for Schenectady County, handling juvenile prosecutions. She has dedicated most of her legal career to family court matters.
Earlier this year, she won the Democratic endorsement, beating out Polk, 63, who has faced criticism from some party leaders due to a 2022 disciplinary action by the state’s Commission on Judicial Conduct for misconduct early in her judgeship.
Polk was recommended for removal from the bench after it was revealed that she had her confidential secretary perform personal tasks, including planning a religious celebration for her daughter, during working hours, and allowed her young daughter to freely roam the courthouse.
The 11-member commission voted to admonish Polk instead, as she had no previous disciplinary record. Polk has since apologized and claimed the situation was a result of her misunderstanding a determination.
Despite Miller-Herrera securing the party endorsement, several prominent Democrats supported other candidates in the race, including Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy, who backed Godlewski.
Other supporters, including Schenectady City Council members Damonni Farley and Joseph Mancini, endorsed Polk.
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I agree with the primary results. #Miller-Herrera
Agree with the primary results.