By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2020 at 3:36 pm
Rate in May is about triple the unemployed from May 2019
The local and state unemployment rates, while far higher than they were a year ago, have come down from the highs in April.
The state Department of Labor reports the unemployment rate in Orleans was 11.6 percent in May and 14.2 percent state-wide.
In April it was 15.8 percent in Orleans and 15.0 percent state-wide.
In Orleans, the number of people working was 15,000 in May, compared to 16,400 in May 2019. The number of unemployed went from 700 in May 2019 to 2,000 last month.
In Orleans, some businesses were able to reopen in Phase 1 on May 15, with Phase 2 starting on May 29. Phase 3 began on June 12. Orleans County and the rest of the Finger Lakes Region can start in Phase 4 on Friday (June 26).
The 11.6 percent unemployment rate in Orleans County compares to a 4.0 percent rate in May 2019, long before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The unemployment rates in May for other nearby counties include:
Niagara at 16.0 percent, Erie at 13.9 percent; Livingston at 11.0 percent; Monroe at 9.6 percent, Ontario is at 10.1 percent; Genesee at 10.1 percent; and Wyoming at 10.1 percent.
When Orleans County hit 15.8 percent unemployed in April, it was the first time Orleans was above 10 percent in unemployment since February 2013 (10.6 percent) and January 2013 (11.2 percent).
BROCKPORT – Oak Orchard Health is pleased to announce that Pembroke Family Medicine will be joining them on July 1.
Their common mission, shared values and dedication to patients make this unification easy to understand. Both healthcare organizations provide services to everyone regardless of medical insurance status.
Dr. Mary Obear
All Pembroke locations will remain the same and their patients will retain the same primary care provider. The only change they’ll see are the signs for Oak Orchard Health on the Pembroke locations in Batavia, Alexander and Corfu.
“Oak Orchard Health aligns perfectly with our current model of practicing high-quality, patient centered care,” said Dr. Mary Obear of Pembroke Family Medicine. “Joining Oak Orchard allows us to offer more services to our patients including vision, dental, behavioral health and patient engagement services. We can now truly offer a comprehensive patient experience.”
Mary Ann Pettibon
Both organizations were recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as Patient Centered Medical Homes, which focuses on improvements in quality of the patient experience, growing staff satisfaction and reducing health care costs.
“We’re excited to welcome Pembroke Family Medicine patients and providers into our organization,” said Mary Ann Pettibon, CEO of Oak Orchard Health. “It’s a natural collaboration since we share so much in common. And we are pleased that their patients will now have access to a full spectrum of care. We look forward to working together.”
There will be an outdoor ribbon cutting on Wednesday, July 1, at 9 a.m. at the Pembroke Corfu location. The address is 860 Main Rd., Corfu.
Oak Orchard Health was founded in 1966. It has grown from a migrant health project into an integrated health center with multiple locations providing health care services for everyone located in the communities we serve. Oak Orchard currently serves over 22,000 patients at locations in Albion, Brockport, Lyndonville, Hornell and Warsaw.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that Covid-19 hospitalizations have dropped below 1,000 for the first time since March 18.
Yesterday, there were 996 hospitalized Covid-19 patients in New York State. This is down from a peak of approximately 18,825 hospitalizations on April 12.
“After three months of New Yorkers working hard, doing the right thing and taking this seriously, the state has its lowest Covid-19 hospitalization rate since this started,” Governor Cuomo said. “Facts are facts, even in this crazy political environment, and what we’re saying in New York is we did the right thing. New Yorkers have been locked up and closed their businesses. We have the virus under control finally. We had to flatten the curve. We don’t want to go back.”
Today’s data is summarized briefly below:
Patient Hospitalization, 996 (-75)
Patients Newly Admitted, 68 (-29)
Number ICU, 270 (-20)
Number ICU that are intubated, 167 (-23)
Total Discharges, 70,010 (+110)
Deaths, 17
Total Deaths, 24,800
The governor also confirmed 749 additional coronavirus cases in New York State, bringing the statewide total to 390,415.
Of the 67,642 tests conducted in New York State yesterday, 749, or 1.1 percent, were positive.
Central New York, the Finger Lakes, the Mohawk Valley, the North Country and the Southern Tier will enter Phase IV of reopening tomorrow, June 26.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2020 at 11:37 am
Holley, Kendall will have drive-in commencements
The five school districts in Orleans County will honor graduates in ceremonies Friday and Saturday.
Two districts – Albion and Lyndonville – will do a virtual graduation with the ceremony on-line. Those districts have already presented diplomas to grads and videos from those moments will be compiled and aired on Friday evening.
Seniors at both Albion and Lyndonville will gather on Friday, in their vehicles, for a parade around campus. Lyndonville’s parade will spill out into the community.
Connie Harrison helps her daughter Callie Allport get ready before a personalized graduation ceremony at Albion last Thursday.
Holley and Kendall are having drive-in graduations to accommodate the entire class. The governor has capped the graduation sizes at 150 people. But that doesn’t count people who stay in cars.
Medina has decided to have three graduation programs, with about a third of the class of 118 students at each commencement. The district also is moving the ceremony from the high school auditorium to Vets Park.
Here are the graduation plans for each district:
ALBION – The senior class will gather in vehicles at the middle school parking lot at 6:30. The around the school campus will begin at 7.
The district will present a video of graduation at 20:20, using military time for 8:20 p.m. Click here to be directed to the district’s YouTube channel.
The video include the student speeches by Valedictorian Ashlyn LeBaron, Salutation Katelyn Spierdowis and Class President Angel Rosario Soto. It will also show each graduate receiving their diploma on stage in the high school gym. The district invited students and their families for personalized graduations in the past two weeks. They received their diploma from Kathy Harling, Board of Education president, and were congratulated on stage by Kathy Winans, senior class president; and Michael Bonnewell, the district superintendent. High School Principal Jennifer Ashbery announced the seniors’ names, just like at a typical graduation.
HOLLEY – The district will have the graduation ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday in the high school parking lot. Students can drive in and sit in vehicles.
“The main thing for the seniors is they all wanted to be together for graduation,” said Sue Cory, the high school principal. “We considered a virtual graduation, but they wanted to be together.”
There will be a stage set up in front of the school. Students can exit their vehicles when their names are called and walked to the stage and accept their diploma. There are 81 members of the class, although three exchange students are already home.
Holley will also announce scholarship winners during commencement and recognize the top 10 graduates.
Holley will be using an FM broadcast system as well as loud speakers.
Parents may exit vehicles to take pictures as their student graduates. There will be a staging area for pictures. Masks must be worn when you leave your vehicle.
When the entire graduating class has received their diplomas, students will be directed to exit their vehicles to toss their caps in front of their cars.
After the ceremony there will be a parade led by fire trucks through the Public Square, down Bennetts Corners Road to Route 31A and ending at the Clarendon fire hall.
“The Class of 2020 is special and will not be forgotten,” Cory said. “We survived this together.”
KENDALL – The district will celebrate graduation on Friday night at 7 on the Kendall Fireman’s Field. The 51 graduates will be socially distanced and sitting in front of a stage.
Family members will be seated in their cars, but will be able to exit to take a photo when their child’s name is called.
All speeches will be presented in person, and the ceremony will end with a parade.
“A special thank you to High School Principal Carol D’Agostino, Senior Advisors Sarah Delmont and Chris Proukou and our custodial crew for their coordination and assistance,” said Julie Christensen, the district superintendent. “ And a thank you to the Kendall Fire Department for their support and organization. Congratulations to the Class of 2020!”
LYNDONVILLE – The district has already had personalized graduations for each student and their families. Those moments will be compiled in a one-hour video to be aired on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. Click here for the district’s YouTube channel.
The video will include graduation speeches, scholarship announcements and awarding of diplomas.
A parade will follow the video. Seniors are encouraged to tune their radios to FM 88.90 for a farewell address from school officials and music throughout the duration of the parade.
Students are encouraged to come to the school in a decorated vehicle with a driver. They will go down to the bus garage, turn around, and line up behind the school resource officer on Housel Avenue.
The community can watch the parade and wave from their vehicles along the route. The route will go by nearly every graduates’ home. Some parents may choose to stay at their residences to watch the parade.
MEDINA – The district decided to have three different commencement celebrations for the Class of 2020, which includes 110 members. Splitting the programs into three groups will allow the district to stay near the 150-person maximum.
The ceremonies will be at Vets Park instead of the high school auditorium. The services will be at 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2020 at 8:57 am
HOLLEY – There will be a food distribution on Friday morning in Holley, with three boxes for each vehicle.
People will receive boxes of mixed dairy, cooked meat and produce. Each box weighs about 25 pounds. This is a drive-through model from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the parking lot for the former Save-A-Lot at 3 Geddes Street Ext.
There will be enough food for 300 families.
Community Action of Orleans & Genesee is partnering with Foodlink and the Orleans County Office for the Aging in the food distribution. The Holley Police Department also is assisting.
To access the parking lot, drivers should go down Frisbee Terrace and proceed via the access road to the DPW which will loop around back to the north side of the lot. Signs will be posted.
There is no registration required. This is a first come, first served event.
Photos by Rebecca Cooley: Medina firefighters respond to smoke coming from the roof of a house at 1100 South Main St.
Press Release, Medina Fire Department
MEDINA – At 5:10 pm on Wednesday evening while on routine patrol, police officers from the Medina Police Department noticed smoke coming from the roof at 1100 South Main St.
Orleans County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers quickly alerted the Village of Medina Fire Department along with firefighters from the Shelby and Lyndonville. Crews from the 3rd and 4th Platoons arrived to find smoke coming from the second floor of a 2-story single family residence.
All five occupants were out of the house on arrival of firefighters. The family was alerted by several smoke detectors that activated as the Police Department spotted the smoke.
Fire Chief Matt Jackson arrived and was in command of the scene as crews made entry and discovered high heat and low visibility on the second floor. Crews found and extinguished the fire in a bedroom and were able to keep the fire damage contained to the room of origin. There is smoke damage throughout the second floor as well as water damage to the first story. The family is currently being assisted by the American Red Cross.
Also assisting at the scene were members from the East Shelby Fire Department along with Coordinators and Investigators from the Orleans County Emergency Management Office.
The Ridgeway Fire Department stood by at the Medina Fire house and handled a fire alarm at Medina Memorial Hospital while the units were still on scene at the South Main Street fire.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time. One village firefighter received a lower body injury He was treated and released from Medina Memorial Hospital and remains off duty at this time.
We would like to thank all our Public Safety partners for their assistance and we would also like to remind everyone to please check your smoke detectors monthly to ensure they are in working order. Smoke detectors save lives!
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2020 at 9:42 pm
Nathaniel Staines introduces Badger to the Village Board this evening. Pictured in back include Trustee Chris Barry, Mayor Eileen Banker and Trustee Kevin Sheehan.
ALBION – The newest member of the Albion Police Department met the Village Board this evening and many of the department heads.
Badger, a Belgian Malinois, is coming off 14 weeks of K-9 training. He worked his first shift on Sunday night with handler Nathaniel Staines, an Albion police officer the past 4 ½ years.
Badger succeeds Rex as the Albion PD’s K-9. Robert Wagner was Rex’s handler.
Badger showed the village officials he is a friendly dog. He happily let people pet him on the head, and even hopped in Aric Albright’s lap. Albright is Albion’s sewer plant superintendent.
The dog has completed training in tracking and article searches. He will be certified this fall in advanced narcotics searches.
“We’ve had a very long history with K-9s,” said Police Chief Roland Nenni. “We’ve had very good dogs.”
Badger is a “passive alert dog.” Instead of barking, he will lay down if he detects something for Staines to check out.
The dog “runs like a rocket” and has impressive jumping ability for tracking suspects, Nenni said.
Nenni said Badger and Staines have already formed a strong partnership.
“We’re best buds,” Staines said.
The two did their training at the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office in Lockport. Nenni said donations and funds from the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force covered the cost of the dog. Purina has also donated about six months of dog food for Badger.
Staines, an Albion resident, said he dreamed of being a police officer and K-9 handler since he was a kid.
Before joining the Albion PD, he worked about 2 ½ years for the Le Roy Police Department and also was a part-time officer in Holley.
Nenni said Staines has already excelled as a handler, connecting with the dog and getting Badger to follow his commands.
Nathaniel Staines and Badger worked their first shift together on Sunday after 14 weeks of training.
Badger makes a new friend in Jay Pahura, the DPW superintendent.
Aric Albright, the Albion sewer plant superintendent, gets a snuggle from Badger at the board meeting. Badger proved friendly in his first meeting with the village department heads.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2020 at 4:41 pm
Orleans and Genesee counties each have m=one new confirmed case of Covid-19 to report today, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.
The Orleans County case is an Albion resident in the 50s. Orleans has now had 264 people test positive for Covid-19.
The new positive individual was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive. In Orleans, 13 of the total active positive cases are hospitalized.
In Genesee County, the new confirmed case is an Elba resident in the 20s. Genesee has now had 216 people test positive for Covid-19.
The new positive individual was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive. Genesee also has one person hospitalized with Covid-19.
Genesee has had one more recovery for 147 total.
To see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, click here.
More information from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• New York, New Jersey and Connecticut announced that effect at 12:01 a.m. tonight travelers from states with high coronavirus rates to self-quarantine for 14 days. Currently, states include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas. Those violating could be subject to a judicial order and mandatory quarantine and potential fines. Additional guidance is forthcoming.
• Keep checking the New York Forward website for your industry/organization/activity summary guidelines.
• Social gathering size increased: The Governor announced today that gathering sizes will be increasing from 25 to 50 for regions in phase 4. Further information is forthcoming. The local Health Departments do not authorize or allow exemptions from the Governor’s orders.
• Community Testing: Oak Orchard Health is now able to provide expanded Covid-19 swabbing to the public at their Albion location (future locations may be added later). Anyone needing testing and meeting the criteria (being symptomatic or required for profession) can call Oak Orchard Health at 585-589-5613 for an appointment, no walk-ins.
Oak Orchard Health will do their best to accommodate scheduling demands, but be aware appointments may fill up quickly. The current testing schedule is Monday 3:40 to 4:40 p.m., Tuesday 4 to 5 p.m., Wednesday 2:20 to 3:20 p.m., Thursday from 3 to 4 p.m., and Friday from 3:20 to 4:20 p.m.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and 35 Senate Democrats introduced standalone legislation requiring the Pentagon to remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America, and anyone who voluntarily served it, from all military bases and other assets of the Department of Defense. The Pentagon must rename the assets within one year.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
“Our country has the opportunity to decide who we are as a nation, and we can’t afford to get this wrong,” said Senator Gillibrand. “We know that removing these names and symbols won’t erase the ugly stain of slavery from our nation’s history, but it will help us build a future where members of the military– no matter their skin color – can proudly serve our country without the glorification of the legacy of white supremacy.”
The Removing Confederate Names and Symbols from Our Military Act will require the Secretary of Defense to remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America, or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederate States of America, from all assets of the Department of Defense.
“Assets” will be defined as and include any base, installation, street, building, facility, aircraft, ship, plane, weapon, equipment, or any other property owned or controlled by the Department of Defense. Grave markers will be exempted. It also prohibits the future display of any name, symbol, display, monument or paraphernalia that honors or commemorates the Confederate States of America or any person who served voluntarily.
The bill, introduced by Senator Warren (D-MA), is co-sponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Michael Bennet (D-CO.), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Robert Casey (D-PA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM0, Tom Udall (D-NM), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-CT), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2020 at 3:20 pm
Governor holds off on allowing movie theaters, casinos, gyms and malls
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that five regions of the state, including the Finger Lakes, will likely reopen to Phase 4 on Friday because of their positive Covid-19 rates of infection and hospitalizations. Orleans County is one of nine counties considered by the state to be in the Finger Lakes Region.
The governor, however, said some businesses that were expected to reopen in Phase 4 won’t initially. That includes gyms, casinos, movie theaters and malls, which the governor said are at high risk of spreading Covid-19.
“There is new information that come out on this virus everyday,” Cuomo said about holding back some businesses and activities from Phase 4.
The state will be allowing the following in Phase 4:
Low-risk, outdoor arts and entertainment, including zoos and botanical gardens at 33 percent capacity.
Low-risk, indoor arts and entertainment, including museums and aquariums at 25 percent capacity.
Film and movie production, higher education and professional sports without fans.
State Sen. Robert Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, was critical of Cuomo excluding some businesses that were expecting to be in Phase 4.
“Once again, the governor arbitrarily decided which businesses in our state will be allowed to succeed and fail,” Ortt said. “Instead of allowing hardworking small-business owners to reopen and recoup some of the devastating revenue lost due to COVID, New York has actively stood in their way and pushed them closer to the brink of collapse. There’s no rational reason to allow Hollywood corporations to resume operations while telling mom and pop stores to stand down.”
The governor also announced today that Phase 4 will include increasing the capacity of churches from 25 percent to 33 percent. Cuomo also is increasing the maximum size for social gatherings from 25 to 50 people.
The five regions that are expected to enter Phase 4 on Friday include the Finger Lakes, Central New York, Mohawk Valley, North Country and Southern Tier.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2020 at 1:36 pm
Beth Parlato has conceded in the Republican Primary for the 27th Congressional District. She was among three candidates in the primary, along with Chris Jacobs and Stefan Mychajliw.
Jacobs has a big lead in the in-person voting in the district that covers eight counties. Parlato has the second most votes. Mychajliw acknowledged his defeat and congratulated Jacobs on Tuesday night.
Thousands of absentee ballots will be counted next week.
Parlato issued this statement at about 1 p.m. today:
“I got in this race to give every voter in NY-27 a choice, and that is exactly what we did,” she said. “Although not victorious, I am grateful for each and every vote, prayer and supporter. We ran a tough campaign, and I’m proud of all that were involved. I look forward to campaigning for President Trump as we fight harder than ever to protect our freedoms and conservative values.”
Parlato is backed by the Conservative Party and is on the ballot in November. Jacobs has the Republican and Independence Party lines. Nate McMurray, who is trailing in a special election against Jacobs, has the Democratic and Working Families lines in November.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2020 at 12:26 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that people coming to the state will have to do 14 days of self quarantine if they are from states with high Covid-19 infection rates.
Those states include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas.
These are states have a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or they are states with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.
Those states on the quarantine list could be removed and others added depending on how the infection rates change.
Cuomo made the announcement at a press conference with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. The three states are joining in requiring people to self quarantine if they are from the affected states.
Cuomo said the three states have pushed for more than three months to lower their infection rates and don’t want to see their Covid-19 numbers spike.
“We worked very hard to get the viral transmission rate down and we don’t want to see it go up,” Cuomo said. “Hopefully we’ll continue to see the numbers go down and the economic activity go up.”
Murphy, the New Jersey governor, said, “We have taken our people through hell and back. The last thing we want to do is have this thing flare up.”
Cuomo said people who violate the self quarantine could be fined $2,000 for the first offense, $5,000 for the second offense and up to $10,000 if they are found to have harmed others by spreading the infection.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2020 at 11:48 am
The State Canal Corporation has announced today that portions of the system will reopen to boaters on Friday. That includes the section in Orleans County and Western New York.
The sections reopening will begin on Friday at 7 a.m. That’s ahead of the July 4 date that was planned for the start of the navigational system during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The season was scheduled to open on May 15, but was pushed back due to Covid-19. The public health emergency delayed the Canal Corp’s maintenance work that is needed before the canal can reopen.
The Canal Corporation has been working to get the system ready since Phase 1 of the state’s reopening started in mid-May for most of the canal system.
“Construction and maintenance activities continue at several locks across the system,” the Canal Corp. announced today.
The canal system is scheduled to close to navigation on Oct. 14.
The lift bridges, including the seven in Orleans County, will be operational each day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. until Sept. 17. From that day until the season closes on Oct. 14, the bridges will be operational from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Orleans has seven of the 16 lift bridges on the canal system. The lift bridges in Orleans include Holley, Hulberton, two in Albion, Eagle Harbor, Knowlesville and Medina.
Click here to see the notices to mariners from the Canal Corporation for more information about other sections of the canal.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2020 at 10:41 am
Photos courtesy of Jenifer Cardone
MEDINA – Medina juniors in the daisy chain are out in a field on Blair Road this morning, picking daisies for the daisy chain for Friday’s graduation.
The daisy chain tradition dates back about a century in Medina. It will continue for Friday’s commencement, which has been split into three ceremonies. The state has capped the size of graduation ceremonies to 150 people.
Medina decided to have three different commencement celebrations for the Class of 2020, which includes 110 members. The ceremonies will be at Vets Park instead of the high school auditorium. The services will be at 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
These daisy chain members include, from left: Lexi Hare, Sophia Cardone, Abby Blount and Hannah Kenward.
The daisy chain includes the 16 top-ranked girls academically and top two boys in the Class of 2021. They will gather on Thursday morning to build a 54-foot-long daisy chain.
The daisies are always picked close to graduation to be fresh for the ceremony.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2020 at 8:48 am
Chris Jacobs topped his challengers in all eight counties of the 27th Congressional District with the votes at the polls on Tuesday and in early voting.
Chris Jacobs
Jacobs declared victory last night, saying his leads are insurmountable even with tens of thousands of absentee ballots to be counted next week. Nate McMurray, Jacobs’ main opponent in a special election, wants all of the votes counted before declaring a victor.
Jacobs has a big lead over McMurray in a district that is heavily Republican. Jacobs, a state senator from Buffalo, was far ahead in a Republican primary for the 27th. Beth Parlato, a family law attorney and former Darien town justice, came in second in seven of the eight counties with in-person voting. Stefan Mychajliw, a former television news reporter and the current Erie County comptroller, was third in seven of the counties, but came in second in Erie County behind Jacobs.
Jacobs and McMurray were running against each other to fill out the remainder of a term vacated by Chris Collins, who resigned on Sept. 30, 2019. He pleaded guilty to an insider trading scheme and awaits sentencing to 26 months in federal prison.
The Republican primary was to be the Republican candidate in November for the full two-year term. McMurray will be back in November and will face Jacobs in a rematch.
Here are the results of the eight-county district with in-person voting.
27th Congressional District Special Election
• Erie County
Chris Jacobs (R, I) – 23,881
Nate McMurray (D, WF) – 9,876
Duane Whitmer (Lib) – 343
Michael Gammariello (Gre) – 173
• Niagara County
Chris Jacobs (R, I) – 10,523
Nate McMurray (D, WF) – 4,823
Duane Whitmer (Lib) – 151
Michael Gammariello (Gre) – 96
• Genesee County
Chris Jacobs (R, I) – 4,536
Nate McMurray (D, WF) – 1,565
Duane Whitmer (Lib) – 155
Michael Gammariello (Gre) – NA
• Orleans County
Chris Jacobs (R, I) – 2,804
Nate McMurray (D, WF) – 674
Duane Whitmer (Lib) – 43
Michael Gammariello (Gre) – 17
• Wyoming County
Chris Jacobs (R, I) – 3,329
Nate McMurray (D, WF) – 759
Duane Whitmer (Lib) – 53
Michael Gammariello (Gre) – 25
• Livingston County
Chris Jacobs (R, I) – 4,476
Nate McMurray (D, WF) – 2,314
Duane Whitmer (Lib) – 102
Michael Gammariello (Gre) – 53
• Ontario County
Chris Jacobs (R, I) – 3,982
Nate McMurray (D, WF) – 2,588
Duane Whitmer (Lib) – 83
Michael Gammariello (Gre) – 52
• Monroe County
Chris Jacobs (R, I) – 1,732
Nate McMurray (D, WF) – 1,169
Duane Whitmer (Lib) – 36
Michael Gammariello (Gre) – 13
Republican Primary for 27th Congressional District
