From left, Ruth Chasolen, Harrietstown Councilman Howard Riley and Franklin County District 7 Legislator Lindy Ellis tally votes at the Harrietstown Town Hall Tuesday night after the polls closed. (Enterprise photo — Griffin Kelly)

SARANAC LAKE — Franklin County reelected Democratic District 7 Legislator Melinda “Lindy” Ellis over Cliff Donaldson of the Common Sense Party Tuesday. The unofficial results shortly after the polls closed at 9 p.m. were Ellis with 959 votes and Donaldson with 560.

“I’m very pleased,” Ellis said. “I really enjoy working very hard for the people of Harrietstown, Saranac Lake, Lake Clear, the town of Franklin, Vermontville and Onchiota. I feel strongly about serving our community.”

Ellis said some of her top priorities for this next term are repaving county highways, increasing broadband, managing road salt and constituent service.

Both Ellis and Donaldson have cited Old Lake Colby Road by the Adirondack Medical Center and the stretch of county Route 55 from Gabriels to Bloomingdale as specific examples of roads that need repaving.

“Being able to continue focusing on roads, bridge, culverts, and being able to get to a long-term term plan for how we’re going to be dealing with those,” Ellis said “We also have to move forward in terms of some of the things that help Franklin County be economically strong and vibrant. Jobs are a really big aspect of our community.”

This past term was Ellis’s first as a county legislator. Donaldson had previously held the position for 13 years in the 1980s and ’90s.

“I think my opponent had good depth and has done good service to the community,” Ellis said. “I feel like I was dealing with today’s issues and look toward the future in terms of what our community needs to do.”

Donaldson could not be reached for comment by the time of publication.