CAPE VINCENT - The official count of absentee ballots Tuesday gave victory to Urban C. Hirschey in the race for town supervisor.

Mr. Hirschey was down by 42 votes on Election Day but picked up 62 more votes than Democratic incumbent Thomas K. Rienbeck in absentees, 144-82. The final tally was 634-614.

Mr. Hirschey said even before the official count, he felt he could win just by looking at the names on the absentee ballots.

He said that several of the absentee ballots represent seasonal residents - from Syracuse, Rochester and Utica - who changed their registration to Cape Vincent to have a voice in the election.

"It sucks, doesn't it?" Mr. Rienbeck said. "These people, they have registered to vote here but they don't even live here. They obviously took advantage of the gray area of the law."

Mr. Rienbeck, who has been in office for 10 years, said most of the people who changed their registration to vote for Mr. Hirschey were rich seasonal residents who oppose wind farms.

"All they care about is their cottages on the river," Mr. Rienbeck said. "They are nothing but selfish people. It's a sad day for the people of Cape Vincent."

Mr. Hirschey is a member of the Wind Power Ethics Group, which opposes unregulated wind development in the town. Mr. Rienbeck has supported the proposed wind farm projects.

Mr. Hirschey said one of his main priorities as the town's new supervisor is adopting a wind law that would spread out the wind turbines.

During the campaign, Mr. Hirschey was abandoned by his own political party because of his "ideals." Cape Vincent's Republican committee dropped its support for Mr. Hirschey and other Republican candidates for town office because several members favored the Democratic contenders, including Mr. Rienbeck.

Last week, Mr. Rienbeck indicated the Town Council would consider a proposed zoning amendment for wind energy development. His apparent goal is to get the law, which offers no restrictions on noise levels, passed by the end of the year.

Mr. Hirschey said it was "disgraceful" that Mr. Rienbeck is attempting at the very end of his term to adopt a zoning law that does not contain restrictions on sound.

"If he tries to pass this, it's going to cost the town a lot of money in legal expenses," he said. "If they had any sense, they would cancel it."

A public hearing on the proposed zoning amendment is set for 7 p.m. Monday at the Cape Vincent Recreation Park on South James Street.

Mr. Rienbeck said that the sound restrictions essentially would prohibit industrial wind development in the town and that a majority of people he spoke with during his campaign supported wind farms.

"People wanted this zoning law," he said.

Mr. Rienbeck said the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements with developers would allow the town to lower taxes.

Wind farm land leases are also a potential source of new income for Cape Vincent farm owners, who have been struggling to stay in business, he said.

There are two wind projects proposed in Cape Vincent: the Cape Vincent Wind Farm in the southern part of the town's agricultural district and the St. Lawrence Wind Farm planned for the northern area.

As the new supervisor, Mr. Hirschey said he also plans to update the town's six-year-old comprehensive plan and develop Cape Vincent's Main Street to make the town more attractive to visitors.

"We really need to revitalize the town," he said, adding that he wants to build more walking trails along the river and the old railroad tracks.

Mr. Hirschey said he will create committees and invite community members to work on various development projects.

Absentees did not change the results in the Town Council or town clerk's races.

Debra J. Suller, the independent challenger for the town clerk post, picked up 19 more absentee votes than Town Clerk Jeri A. Mason, but Ms. Mason still won, 662-588.

Republican and WPEG member Brooks J. Bragdon and Democrat Mickey W. Orvis preserved their Election Day leads for two Town Council seats, picking up 120 and 68 absentee votes, respectively.

The final tally was 630 votes for Mr. Bragdon, 573 for Mr. Orvis, 540 for Democrat Richard H. Macsherry, 480 for independent John L. Byrne III and 177 for Republican Raymond R. Benjamin.