Every Primary Race Decided - Save the Big One

By Dan Hust
MONTICELLO — September 28, 2007 — Though still not technically official, the results of last week’s primary elections are in – except for the countywide race.
With incumbent Burton Ledina and Cindy Barber each garnering 83 votes in the County Court Judge race, two contested ballots may well determine who gets the Independence line in November’s general elections.
County Board of Elections Commissioners Rodney Gaebel (Republican) and Tim Hill (Democrat) agreed on Wednesday that the challenged ballots are valid, but they must wait until Monday to see if either candidate will take the matter to court.
If it doesn’t go in front of a judge, the commissioners will open the ballots and certify the results by Tuesday, said Gaebel.
The rest of the races’ results follow (note that losing candidates may still be running on other lines or as write-ins):
Sullivan County Legislator
In District #2 – which encompasses the towns of Highland, Lumberland, Forestburgh and much of Mamakating – Charles Penna garnered 22 votes from Independence Party members, while write-in (and incumbent) Kathleen LaBuda received 12.
In District #3 – which includes the towns of Fremont, Rockland and most of Neversink – incumbent (and write-in) Elwin Wood earned 12 votes from Independence voters, while challenger Tony Leone got 11.
In District #9, which encompasses much of the Town of Thompson, Alan Sorensen earned 14 Independence votes, while incumbent (and write-in) Sam Wohl garnered 4.
Town of Bethel
Highway Superintendent candidate William Crumley will be listed on the Republican line in November, thanks to 107 votes. Incumbent Bernard Cohen received 81 in total, while challenger Richard Hendrickson earned 67.
Town of Fallsburg
Winning the Conservative line in the supervisor’s race was incumbent Steve Levine with 17 votes, compared to Kenneth DeMars’ 5.
In the Democratic-line race for the two seats open on the town board, incumbent Arnold Seletsky reigned with 284 votes, along with Joe Levner’s 272. Ada Cole was next with 235 votes, followed by Kevin Austin McDaniel at 192.
Town of Liberty
The Independence Party chose two to run on their line for the town board: incumbents Thomas Hasbrouck (23 votes) and Lynn Killian (17 write-in votes). Challenger Sean Hanofee earned 10.
Town of Lumberland
Republicans selected incumbent Joseph Carr Jr. (108 votes) and Jay Shafer (107) to run on their line in November for the town board, while incumbent Nadia Rajsz received 101 votes.
Town of Mamakating
The Republican-line race for supervisor was won by Nicholas Salomone Jr. with 160 votes, as opposed to John Moul’s 100.
The Independence-line race for supervisor was also won by Nicholas Salomone Jr. with 24 votes, although there were various write-ins: Bob Fiore (5), Ted Brebbia (4), incumbent Charles Penna (1) and John Moul (1).
For the two town board positions on the Independence line, incumbent Regina Saunders and Robert Justus each garnered 27 votes. Write-ins totalled 9 for Ted Brebbia and 3 for Richard Morris.
For the two committee seats open to Democrats, Patricia Brennan (14 votes) and Brian Minerly (9) were picked. Paul Champagne received one vote.
With two seats open on the county committee for Conservatives, Esther Walsh (6 votes) and James Thompson (4) got the green light from voters. Challengers Mark Lewis Schulman and Donald Lara Jr. received no votes.