Just a couple weeks after announcing her Democratic endorsement and intent to run for Town of Montgomery Supervisor, Susan Cockburn found out her petitions had been invalidated by one signature.

On May 5, the Orange County Democratic Committee announced that Cockburn had filed an action in the State Supreme Court to fight objections to many signatures on her petitions by Republican candidate L. Stephen Brescia.

“Cockburn’s action came after more than 120 objections were made by Republican candidate Stephen Brescia to invalidate signatures of Montgomery residents. Attorneys for Cockburn addressed the objections and several Montgomery residents certified under oath that their signatures were valid. However, due to the invalid and unfounded objections, Cockburn remains deficient by a single signature,” the press release read.

The Democratic committee provided Cockburn with a pro bono attorney named Rebekah Nellis Kennedy who is from Eleanor’s Legacy, a group that supports, funds and trains female Democratic candidates across New York.

The signatures that were challenged were on many of Cockburn’s petitions, which were carried and coordinated by Town of Montgomery Democratic Committee Co-chairs, Kathy Cannon and Karina Tipton. Cockburn did not carry any of the petitions that were challenged.

Cockborn’s attorney, Kennedy, was confident going into the case. “The objections that led to the invalidation of Susan’s petition were incorrect and obviously politically motivated. The Board ruled that Cockburn’s petition has 239 valid signatures, only a single signature shy of the 240 signatures required. Legally, the Board should have taken into account the many notarized affidavits from voters and witnesses which explained the petitions further, and affirmed the authenticity of every signature,” said Kennedy.

An appearance was scheduled for Thursday, May 11 at Orange County Court, but the order to show cause filed by her campaign, which was meant to reverse the board’s decision, was dismissed a day later.

Cockburn mentioned that it’s not just her that’s upset about this, but people who support her.

“A lot of people are upset,” said Cockburn. “I was really looking forward to talking about all of the plans I had.”

As for a response from Republicans, Chair of the Montgomery Republicans Williiam Kirnan spoke on the matter.

“Steve Brescia never challenged these petitions, nor did I, and neither of us were even aware that Ms. Cockburn’s petitions had been challenged until at least a week after the fact. It appears that when this case was presented to the Supreme Court, Ms. Cockburn’s attorney cast a wide net and included Mr. Brescia in this case even though he did not participate in any way with the challenges to Ms. Cockburn’s petitions, thereby trying to make this a political issue against Mr. Brescia,” stated Kirnan. “As a side note Mr. Brescia wasn’t even in the country, while on vacation while much of the timeline concerning this challenge took place.”

Brescia could not be reached for comment.

As for Cockburn’s future, she mentions her “won’t back down record,” making it clear she is still running. Montgomery Democrats will continue to support Cockburn in her candidacy on the Independent line.

“Despite the efforts of the Montgomery Republicans to keep Susan off the ballot and allow Steve Brescia to run unopposed, the Montgomery Democratic Committee remains committed to its support of Susan Cockburn in her quest to appear on the ballot. Beyond our endorsement of Susan for supervisor, the voters of Montgomery deserve a chance to select the candidate they feel is best for the job,” stated Co-chair Cannon.

Cockburn is now carrying petitions for RESPECT Montgomery which is an independent line and symbol for it is the star inside the circle. RESPECT Montgomery is for all the unaffiliated registered voters if they want to sign, but anyone who has not yet signed a petition to ballot can sign. Cockburn asks that people find her on Facebook and Instagram or just get in touch with her if they wish to show support.

“I’ll still get signatures,” Cockburn stated, “And I’m still running.”