Town clerk in Ledyard same-sex marriage flap re-elected

LEDYARD, N.Y. (AP) - A town clerk in Cayuga County who refuses to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because of her religious beliefs has won her re-election race.

Longtime Ledyard town clerk Rose Marie Belforti defeated Ed Easter, a write-in candidate who said he ran because Belforti's stance on licenses was wrong.

New York became the sixth and largest state to sanction gay marriage this summer. Belforti said her Christian beliefs preclude her from issuing licenses to same-sex couples. Her solution was to have her office issue all marriage licenses by appointment so a deputy can handle them.

Belforti had 305 votes to Easter's 186.

Belforti's plan was criticized by some in the town, and a lawsuit from a lesbian couple denied a license was being considered.