Smith-Holzer

WILMINGTON — Hope Smith-Holzer has unofficially won the job of justice in this town after she launched a grassroots write-in campaign for the position this fall.

Smith-Holzer, 37, received 34 of 36 write-in votes, the Essex County Board of Elections reported unofficially after it canvassed ballots since the Nov. 8 election. County Board of Elections Republican Commissioner Allison McGahay said the other two people to receive write-in votes were Steve Corvelli and Tim Kurtz, each receiving one vote.

McGahay said the county’s results will become official either Thursday or Friday, when she and the county’s Democratic elections commissioner, Mark Whitney, plan to sign off on the county’s final results.

No candidate was listed for the Wilmington justice position on the ballot on Nov. 8. Smith-Holzer will succeed Timothy Kurtz, who resigned in December and left the seat vacant. Robert Kirby holds the town’s other justice position.

Smith-Holzer is a credentialed alcohol and substance abuse counselor for North Star Behavioral Health Services in Saranac Lake and said she has 17 years of experience as an alcohol and drug counselor. She launched her grassroots campaign in the weeks leading up to the election, promoting her candidacy on Facebook and mailing out hundreds of fliers about her candidacy to Wilmington residents. She has three stepchildren and a child with her husband Travis, who all live in Wilmington.