It's Imbert, Ubert, and Johnson after tough campaign

Mayor Peter T. Imbert, top right, and his supporters look concerned as early numbers showed he was running a close race against his opponent, Jim Carbone. Minutes later, Imbert pulled ahead to win an easy victory. When the numbers for the first two election districts were called in to John (Micky) McDonough, the campaign manager for Mayor Peter T. Imbert, they showed the longtime Mayor trailing behind his opponent, Jim Carbone. That sent the reverie of Imbert supporters who were at the Bulldog restaurant into a tailspin. A muted silence blanketed the room.

"Did you see those numbers," said an obviously worried Imbert. "Look at those numbers."

But the mood changed again, this time to jubilation, as the other districts quickly followed, moving Imbert ahead of Carbone and eventually winning him reelection with 62.6 percent of the vote.

"Yes, that's more like it," said a relieved McDonough. "Yes!" Thecrowd cheered.

Champagne was passed out and Imbert quickly stood on a chair over the crowd, thanking them for their support.

Top left, an elated Trustee Ed Johnson reacts to the election results showing him as a winner. Bottom left, Trustee Richard Ubert poses with his wife following his reelection. Top right, a still hopeful Jim Carbone looks over voting sheets earlier in the evening with his supporters. Photos by Joe Turner and Carolyn James "This is a very good outcome, especially since the campaign of my opponent was not about the direction this Village will be taking but instead about personal interests," said Imbert. "I am happy the interests of the Village residents is what prevailed."

Imbert was referring to Carbone, whose support came largely from residents, particularly those living in and around the areas of Villa D'Avanzo restaurant and Richmond Auto Body, who were unhappy with the Village's decisions on zoning and other issues. "They were angry because they did not like the answers the Village gave them," said Imbert. "This was not about concerns for the Village as a whole; it was about concerns for individual homes."

Jim Carbone did not return phone calls for his comment, but Joe Morin said that his biggest disappointment of the night was the voter turnout. "When you consider that only about 30 to 35 percent of registered voters got to the polls; that is sad," he said.

Morin said he plans to run again—and to start campaigning earlier. "I did very well in the areas I walked extensively," said Morin. "So next time I am going to get out a lot sooner and cover more districts."

Ubert, who ran with Imbert under the Stars and Stripes party line, also thanked his supporters—and wished his mother a happy birthday.

"Now we can get back to the job of working for the residents of the Village," said Ubert.

Voting was slow but steady throughout the day said poll watchers. A couple from Snug Harbor said they voted for the incumbents because they like the direction in which the Village is going. "I love the new Nautical Park and the way they have fixed up the other parks; everything looks so nice."

Others said they were looking for a change. "I am concerned about the overall shape of the Village," said one woman who declined to give her name. "We have so much that we need to do-we need more businesses here and restaurants."

Unofficial tallies showed that Imbert defeated Carbone 1075 to 644, a 62.5 percent plurality. Trustee Richard Ubert and Ed Johnson defeated Joe Morin, with 1041 and 1021 votes, respectively to Morin's 677 votes.

At Johnson headquarters early in the evening his supporters gathered after what one called a long campaign. Most were smiling and happy, but Johnson acknowledged "a slight case of the nerves."

"You always work and try to do the right thing and you hope people recognize that," said Johnson.

After the votes were tallied, and as he celebrated with supporters at Chesters he said he believes the vote showed hesitancy on the part of the public to make any major change during these economic times.

"We've been doing a good job and I think people recognized that and did not want to take a chance right now," he said.

Also winning reelection in an uncontested race was Village Justice Debra Urbano DiSalvo.