Valentine wins in Murray; Black is tops in Gaines
Neil Valentine held off a primary challenge from Joe Sidonio to fill a one-year term on the Murray Town Board, 244-220, in today’s Republican Primary.
Valentine was recently appointed to the board to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Ed Bower.
Murray Republicans also had races for the GOP Committee in six districts. In each district, two people were elected.
District 1: Ed Morgan and Michael Mele were endorsed by the GOP Committee and are challenged by Cynthia Piedimonte and Gerald Ramsey. Morgan, 52, and Mele, 49, topped Piedimonte, 24, and Ramsey, 20.
District 2: Mark Porter and Douglas Heath are endorsed by the committee. Anthony Peone forced a primary. Porter received 25 votes and Heath, 26, in holding off Peone, 17.
District 3: Kathleen Case and Ron Vendetti are endorsed by the committee. Kerri Neale forced a primary. Neale was the top vote-getter with 44, followed by 32 for Case and 24 for Vendetti.
District 4: Kimberly DeFrank is endorsed by the committee. Dirk Lammes Jr. and Joe Sidonio both submitted petitions to serve as members of the Republican Committee. Lammes led with 72 votes, followed by Sidonio with 66 and DeFrank with 64.
District 5: Cynthia Oliver and Lynn Wood are endorsed by the committee and are challenged by Arthur Knab and Joseph Kellenberger. Oliver and Wood were both elected with 48 votes, followed by 23 each for Knab and Kellenberger.
District 6: Robert Miller and Glenn DeFrank are endorsed by the committee. Kellie Gregoire forced a primary. Gregoire led with 44, followed by 35 for Miller and 34 for DeFrank.
Murray mailed out 30 absentee ballots and 21 had been returned by today. The ballots will be opened on Tuesday. The Board of Elections will accept ballots until next Thursday as long as they are postmarked by Sept. 12.
Gaines also had a Republican Primary for a Town Board position. Corey Black defeated Joe Gangi, 80-52.
