The voters have decided to consolidate 11 Advisory Commissions into four and to elect a Democrat newcomer into the City of Ithaca’s Common Council in Tuesday’s elections.
Common Council asked voters at the ballot whether “the Ithaca City Charter and City of Ithaca Municipal Code [should] replace 11 boards, committees, commissions and councils with four new volunteer Advisory Commissions.”
“The current board and committees’ organizational structure is confusing to the public and challenging for citizens to understand how to participate,” the Common Council agreed in a meeting in July.
The proposal was accepted by voters roughly two to one.
Question: “Shall a local law be approved that would amend the Ithaca City Charter and City of Ithaca Municipal Code to replace 11 boards, committees, commissions and councils with four new volunteer Advisory Commissions intended to empower public participation in setting City policy?”
Voters | Percentage (%) | |
Yes | 1901 | 63.24 |
No | 1105 | 36.76 |
Total | 3006 | 100 |
Josephine Martell, the previous occupant of the contested seat, endorsed Lewis as “a smart, capable and lovely women” in a text to The Sun prior to the election.
“I am grateful to my family, neighbors and friends for their support of my campaign for Common Council, and I am so pleased for this opportunity to represent my wonderful community,” Lewis told The Sun. “I look forward to working with the dedicated members serving on Ithaca’s Common Council as we look to solutions for challenges facing our city.”
Voters | Percentage | |
Laura A. Lewis | 493 | 57.46 |
Melissa Hall | 268 | 31.24 |
Aryeal M. Jackson | 93 | 10.84 |
Write in | 4 | 0.47 |
Total | 858 | 100 |

Rich John won an unopposed election to become the county legislator. While Reed Steberger was also on the ballot, he dropped out from the election in September after allegations of sexual assault.
Voters | Percentage (%) | |
Rich John | 220 | 89.43 |
Reed Steberger | 23 | 9.35 |
Write In | 3 | 1.22 |
Total | 246 | 100 |

