ELIZABETHTOWN — Republican Kristy Sprague will be the new Essex County judge and the first woman to be elected to this position. Sprague won with 62% of the 18,165 votes, according to unofficial results released by the Essex County Board of Elections late Tuesday night.

In a text message to the Enterprise due to spotty cell coverage, Sprague said she was humbled by the large margin of victory.

“It shows how hard we worked and the belief the voters had in me and my proven record,” Sprague said. “Being a judge has always been a dream of mine and to have had the chance to progress into this next role in my home county, where I was born and raised, is just surreal.”

Sprague ran against Democrat Bryan Liam Kennelly in the only contested race in Essex County this election season. Sprague began her campaign in January. Kennelly launched his campaign in June, after the previous democratic pick, Lake Placid attorney Amy Fisher Quinn, was appointed to the New York state Court of Claims. The current county judge, Richard Meyer, is finishing his second 10-year term.

Sprague, a native of Moriah, has served as Essex County district attorney since 2009, and has been reelected three times since then on the Republican and Conservative party lines. She began her career as an assistant district attorney in Clinton County, a job she landed without even having her bar results back. She attended Albany Law School and before that, she studied political science at SUNY Plattsburgh.

During her time as DA, she has served on numerous boards, coalitions and panels. She brought the North Country’s first Child Advocacy Center to Essex County. Among the teams she founded during her time are the Essex County Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary team, the Child Fatality Review Team and the Animal Cruelty Task Force.

Sprague also expressed gratitude for her family, campaign team, committee members and volunteers.

“Your hard work led to this historic victory tonight for all of us,” Sprague wrote. “Thank you!”

Kennelly grew up in Lake Placid and returned to Lake Placid soon after graduating law school to start his own practice. He will continue working cases in county court after conceding the county judge race.

“Despite my loss, I want to thank all my supporters. I look forward to continuing to provide zealous representation to all my clients and spending more time with my family,” Kennelly wrote in an email statement Tuesday night. “I wish Kristy Sprague well in her new role. I’ll see her in court.”

Sprague said she sees this next role as a continuation of her public service. She said she will do what it takes to make sure the transition to a new county judge is positive and that she is ready for the responsibility.

“Just as always, I will hit the ground running,” Sprague wrote. “It will be my privilege.”