Some Republicans secure Democrat backing for general election

Some of the Republican candidates for town offices have won the backing of the Democratic Party during recent caucuses.

Two of those candidates, Michael Neidert and Dale Brooks, have both forced Republican primaries on Thursday for town highway superintendent positions.

Neidert has challenged incumbent Jed Standish for Albion highway superintendent. Neidert has worked as a motor equipment operator the past 18 years for the Highway Department. The Primary on Thursday in Albion also includes Chris Kinter, who has 18 years experience with construction and runs his own business.

Standish has been highway superintendent for the past 16 years.

Regardless of the results on Thursday, Neidert will be on Nov. 3 ballot under the Democratic Party line.

Dale Brooks, the current superintendent for the Department of Public Works in the Village of Albion, also has the Democratic line for Barre town highway superintendent. He forced a Republican Primary against Bert Mathes, an employee with the Orleans County Highway Department. They are both seeking to succeed Dale Ostroski, who is retiring Dec. 31.

Other Democratic endorsements include:

Albion: Sarah Basinait for town clerk, Jake Olles for Town Councilman, and Darlene Benton for Town Councilwoman. Basinait and Olles both have been endorsed by the Republican Party.

Republicans also backed Paul Fulcomer for the Town Board, which sets up a three-way battle for two positions on Nov. 3.

Barre: Besides Brooks, Democrats backed Cyndy Van Lieshout for town supervisor, Maureen Beach for town clerk, and Joe Grabowski and Richard V. Bennett for Town Board.

Beach has the Republican endorsement for town clerk. The Republican Party also backed Mark Chamberlain for town supervisor, and Sean Pogue and Larry Gaylard for Town Board. Mathes has the GOP endorsement but faces the Primary challenge from Brooks on Thursday.

Kendall: Democrats endorsed Margaret Lynn Szozda for Town Board. She already has the GOP line.

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

In Shelby, Democrats are backing Darlene Rich for town clerk. Republicans aren’t running a candidate against her.

The other Republican candidates include Merle “Skip” for town supervisor, Kenneth Schaal, Jr. and Dale Stalker for Town Council, and Dawn Keppler for town justice. Mike Fuller and Ed Houseknecht are battling for the GOP line in a Primary on Thursday for highway superintendent.

Democrats have until Sept. 17 to file their nominations for candidates. The Gaines Democratic Party Caucus is scheduled for Sept. 14, The Board of Elections Office said no other town caucuses are scheduled before the Sept. 17 deadline.