Races for town and county offices take shape in Orleans County

Republicans force several primaries on Sept. 10

ALBION – Candidates for town and county offices submitted petitions to be on the ballot this week, and the list shows several Republican Primaries for Sept. 10.

The Primary will be highlighted by a fight for the Republican line between Tom Drennan, who has been endorsed by the Republican Committee, and Randy Bower. Drennan is chief deputy for the Sheriff’s Department. Bower, a dispatcher for nearly 30 years, submitted enough petitions to force the GOP Primary.

Both candidates for the Republican line will be on the November ballot, regardless of the Primary results because Bower has the Conservative line and Drennan has the Independence Party line.

Another candidate for sheriff, retired Medina police officer Don Organisciak, Jr. has the Democratic Party line. Scott Hess, the incumbent, is retiring after Dec. 31.

Here is a rundown of the candidates at the town and county level:

Orleans County:

Two of the seven incumbent county legislators have opposition. Lynne Johnson (District 2) has the Republican and Indepedence lines against Paul Lauricella, who has the Conservative line for a district that includes Yates, Ridgeway and a portion of Shelby.

Don Allport (at-large) has the Republican line for a county-wide position. He is challenged by James White, a Democrat.

Democrats also endorsed Fred Miller for District 3 (Albion and Gaines). Republicans aren’t running a candidate against him.

The other Republican incumbents are all unopposed including: David Callard (at-large), John DeFilipps (at-large), William Eick (District 1 – Clarendon, Barre and most of Shelby), and Ken DeRoller (District 4 – Kendall, Murray and Carlton).

Rocco Sidari is unopposed for coroner. He is backed by the Conservative and Republican parties.

Albion:

There is a three-way race for highway superintendent with incumbent Jed Standish facing a Republican challenge from Michael Neidert and Chris Kinter.

Town Supervisor Matt Passarell is unopposed and will run under the Republican and Conservative lines.

Other candidates are also unopposed Republicans, including Sarah Basinait for town clerk, and Anthony “Jake” Olles and Paul Fulcomer for Town Council.

Barre:

There is a two-way race for highway superintendent with Bert Mathes, the endorsed Republican, facing a Primary challenge from Dale Brooks, the superintendent for the Village of Albion Department of Public Works. Incumbent Dale Ostroski is retiring.

Other candidates are unopposed including Mark Chamberlain for town supervisor, Maureen Beach for town clerk, and Sean Pogue and Larry Gaylard for Town Council.

Carlton:

There is a three-way race for two four-year positions on the Town Board with Frank Lauta, John Fitzak and Dana Woolston all vying for the Republican line. In addition, Marcus Coville is running for a two-year term on the Town Board.

Incumbent Town Supervisor Gayle Ashbery and Town Justice Patricia Russell are both unopposed.

Clarendon:

There is a four-way Republican Primary for highway superintendent with incumbent Larry Swanger challenged by Tracy Bruce Chalker, Frederick Seeman III and Craig Nicosia. Swanger also has the Independence Party line and Chalker is endorsed by the Conservative Party.

The other Republican candidates are unopposed, including Richard Moy for town supervisor, William Campbell and Allen Robinson for Town Council, Susan Colby for town clerk, and Kevin Rombaut and Thomas DiFante for town justices.

Gaines:

Town Supervisor Carol Culhane is unopposed and secured the Republican and Conservative lines. Other town candidates are unopposed including Town Council candidates Richard DeCarlo as a Republican and Mary Neilans as Republican and Conservative, and Ronald Mannella for highway superintendent with Republican, Conservative and Independence party lines.

Kendall:

The Republican candidates are unopposed including Anthony Cammarata for town supervisor, Barbara Flow and Margaret Lynn Szozda for Town Council, and Warren Kruger for highway superintendent.

Murray:

The Republican incumbents are unopposed, including John Morriss for town supervisor, and Edwin Bower and Lloyd Christ for Town Council.

Ridgeway:

The Republican-endorsed candidates are unopposed including Brian Napoli for town supervisor, Sarah Fisher and Mary Woodruff for Town Council, and Joseph Kujawa for town justice. Kujawa also is endorsed by the Conservative Party.

Shelby:

There is a two-way race for highway superintendent with incumbent Mike Fuller challenged by Ed Houseknecht in a GOP Primary. Fuller also has the Independence Party line.

The other Republican candidates are unopposed, including Merle “Skip” for town supervisor, Kenneth Schaal, Jr. and Dale Stalker for Town Council, and Dawn Keppler for town justice.

Yates:

There are races in this town with James Simon forcing a Republican Primary for town supervisor against incumbent John Belson. Valerie Pratt also is on the ballot as a Republican in a three-way Primary against Wesley Bradley and John Riggi. In addition, Glenn Maid has been endorsed by the Conservative Party for Town Council.
The other Republican candidates are unopposed, including Michele Harling as town clerk and Roger Wolfe for highway superintendent.

The petitions were due at the County Board of Elections on Thursday. Any qualified voter can file an objection to the petitions by Monday, July 13.