By CRAIG FREILICH

The see-saw ballot count between 116th District Democrat incumbent Assemblywoman Addie Russell and Republican challenger John Byrne reaches another stage in the decision process Monday when a judge begins sorting out ballot challenges.

Byrne, of Cape Vincent, led Russell, of Theresa, by 117 votes after the initial vote count on Election Night.

Since then, counts of absentee ballots and affidavit ballots have put Russell in the lead, but the final outcome is to be determined by state Supreme Court Judge James McClusky, who will hear challenges from both major parties to some of the ballots.

St. Lawrence County Republican Elections Commissioner Tom Nichols says the process begins Monday in court, and Judge McClusky's ruling will come after that, but how long after, he can't say.

"It could be next week, next month, Christmas, the solstice -- no one knows," Nichols said.

In close races, challenges from contenders' parties to the validity of some absentee and affidavit ballots can be expected.

Once the judge has made his rulings, a final vote tally can be made, unless it has to wait for appeals to higher courts.

The 116th district, "The River District," includes all St. Lawrence County towns along the St. Lawrence River (Massena, Ogdensburg, Louisville, Waddington, Lisbon, Oswegatchie, Morristown, and Hammond) plus the towns of Canton, Potsdam, Rossie, Macomb, and DePeyster, and northern Jefferson County not including Watertown.

Conservative Russell Finley of Lisbon finished a distant third in the race.