2018 MIDTERM ELECTIONS

Fernandez Concedes,

Thanks Supporters

He Calls Devlin To Congratulate Him

By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.COM

OTEGO – Despite the final outcome, county sheriff candidate Bob Fernandez gave thanks all around for a hard-fought campaign that came to an end yesterday afternoon.

“I was honored to have the chance to run for sheriff in Otsego County and I would like to thank all of the bipartisan support for our campaign,” he said in an e-mail. “I also would like to thank the campaign team itself … (and) the Democratic committee, which allowed me to run on their line.”

The canvassing continues for a third and final day today at the county Board of Elections at The Meadows Office Complex, but by the end of Thursday, with 387 ballots left to county, the incumbent, Richard J. Devlin, Jr., was 821 votes ahead.

Fernandez said he called Devlin to congratulate him, but the two had been unable to connect.

“It was a steep learning curve for us and lot of hard work for a few political newbies,” said Fernandez, who recently retired from the state police.  ” We had a number of objectives we wanted to hit during the campaign we hit them all except the last one where we came up a little short.”