Big turnout expected in Medina

About 3,000 eligible to vote on dissolution

MEDINA – A big turnout is expected at the polls today when the Village of Medina votes whether or not to dissolve the village government.

There are about 3,000 eligible voters. Residents 18 and over had to register to vote with the Orleans County Board of Elections by 10 days before today’s election.

There are 37 absentee ballots, and most have already been received by this morning, said Village Clerk-Treasurer Debbie Padoleski. Another 49 ballots were issued to disabled residents. All of these ballots need to be in today to count in the election.

The polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. at the Senior Center at 615 West Ave. Residents will be asked “Shall the Village of Medina, NY, be dissolved?”

The votes will be cast on paper ballots. Padoleski expects election inspectors will have the votes counted by 9:30 to 10 p.m.

Recent village elections have had light turnouts. A mayor and trustee election last March only turned out about 400 voters. Two write-in candidates, Mike Sidari and Marguerite Sherman, pulled off an upset in that election, which included Andrew Meier as an unopposed candidate for mayor.

In March 2009, about 600 people voted in a trustee race where Kelly Kiebala and Mark Irwin were victorious over Owen Toale and Clayton Ehrenreich.

A year after that election, Ehrenreich and Tabelski both ran for mayor. About 800 people voted then, with Tabelski, the incumbent, winning another two-year term.

Padoleski said the village elections used to draw more people to the polls. She remembers when the races would bring out at least 1,000 voters.

She expects a big turnout today.