Burgess wins with nearly 80 percent of vote in Albion

Marciano, Toale elected trustees in Medina

Photos by Tom Rivers: Zack Burgess sings with his band Zero tonight at Maison Albion where many of his friends and family surprised him with a celebration. Burgess was elected to the Village Board today.

ALBION – Zack Burgess was elected to the Village Board today, getting 76.6 percent of the vote in a victory over Joe Martillotta, 111 to 34.

Burgess, 31, becomes one of the youngest elected officials in Orleans County. He has been active in the village, serving as co-chairman of the Rock the Park Music Festival at Bullard Park. He works as a sales representative at Bentley Brothers.

Burgess, who was endorsed by the Democratic Party, said he knows the current Village Board members and many of the village employees through Rock the Park. He presented plans to the board for that music event many times in recent years and also connected with village department heads on the music festival, which was a fundraiser for the park.

He has attended recent Village Board meetings, and also went to several back when he was in high school and Martillotta was his social studies teacher. Martillotta, who is now retired, required students to attend local government meetings.

Burgess said he welcomes feedback from village residents on how the village government can best serve the community.

“I want people to feel comfortable talking to me,” he said. “I want to be as accessible as I can to the people in the village.”

Burgess said it was humbling the past month to see so many signs in yards, with people showing support for his election.

“I’m super appreciative of everyone who put out a sign,” he said.

Burgess was given a surprise party tonight at Maison Albion on West Countyhouse Road. Laura Olinger, president of Bentley Brothers, organized the celebration. She appreciates a new generation stepping forward to help lead the community.

The turnout for the election was low with 145 out of 2,970 eligible voters or 4.9 percent. That was still nearly three times the turnout in the last election in September, where the top candidate had 54 votes.

Burgess starts the three-year term on the board on April 1.

Dylan DeSmit, left, joined Zack Burgess and the band Zero in performing music and having some fun tonight at Maison Albion on West County House Road.

• MEDINA – In the other village election in Orleans County, two trustee candidates in Medina were unopposed for two-year terms. Jessica Marciano received 59 votes and Owen Toale, 48. They ran together on the “Accountability Party.”