Local News: November 24, 2023

- Thirteenth person indicted for kidnapping, murder of Ithaca’s Thomas Rath -

A thirteenth person was indicted for the kidnapping and murder of Ithaca resident Thomas Rath. New York State Police announced on November 22 that Newfield resident, David Maycumber was indicted by a Tioga County Grand Jury on four charges. They include first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and intimidating a witness. Maycumber is the fifth person charged with murdering Rath. Rath was abducted from a homeless encampment in Ithaca in May. Police found his body in a shallow grave in Tioga County in August. All thirteen people arrested so far have been charged with A-1 felonies. In New York State someone convicted of an A-1 felony could face a minimum sentence of 15-40 years in prison or a maximum of life in prison without parole.

- Elmira Democrats take city council majority -

It’s been over two weeks since the elections. Results in some races are just being announced following affidavit and absentee ballot counts. In Elmira, Democrats have won the majority on the city council. WSKG reports this is the first time in 30 years that Democrats have had the majority on the 6-person council. Official certification of the election takes place on December 15.

- More details emerge about the successful write-in election of a Fourth Ward candidate -

Details are emerging about Cornell undergraduate Patrick Kuehl’s write-in campaign which won him a seat on Ithaca’s Common Council. Kuehl defeated incumbent Fourth Ward Alderperson Jorge Defindini in an election that had about 100 voters. The Cornell Sun reports that Kuehl gained a significant number of absentee votes from five Cornell fraternities after making direct appeals to them for support. The Ithaca Voice reports that Alderperson Tiffany Kumar and Alderperson-elect for the Fifth Ward, Clyde Lederman helped plan the write-in campaign. They are also Cornell undergraduates. Kuehl did not publicly announce his candidacy or make public any policy positions until a week after the election. The Fourth Ward includes Cornell’s campus and parts of Collegetown.