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FROM THE LEFT, incumbent County Court Judge Burt Ledina won re-election; Dan Briggs beat incumbent Neil Gilberg to capture the County Clerk’s position; and Alan Kesten beat Vic Marinello for the County Coroner position vacated by David Sager, who won the Legislative District 1 race.
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Election results in; Dems retain majority
By Dan Hust
SULLIVAN COUNTY — November 9, 2007 — Democrats retained a majority on the Sullivan County Legislature thanks to thousands of voters on Election Day, but that majority has shrunk from 7-2 to 5-4.
And a good portion of the county’s 15 townships will see brand new faces in a multitude of elected offices.
Out of the 44,240 registered voters in Sullivan County, approximately 17,880 voted, according to elections officials – about 40.4 percent voter turnout, in other words.
With more than 2,000 absentee ballots left to count (and write-in candidates’ tallies unavailable), results remain very unofficial, but in various races, winners and losers are already clear.
The biggest and, at times, unexpected upsets:
• Former County Treasurer and County Manager Dan Briggs, a Republican, ousted Democratic incumbent County Clerk Neil Gilberg by a 1,324-vote margin in a triumphant return to county government after the Democratic-controlled Legislature fired Briggs two years ago.
• In the District 9 County Legislator race, incumbent Democrat Sam Wohl suffered a large, 251-vote-margin defeat at the hands of Republican Alan Sorensen.
• Town of Bethel Supervisor and Republican Harold Russell lost his seat to Democratic Councilman Dan Sturm by nearly 100 votes, making it likely Sturm will be Bethel’s fourth leader in as many years.
• In the Town of Callicoon, Democratic challenger Linda Babicz was holding a slim lead over incumbent Republican Supervisor Gregg Semenetz. If she retains that lead, Semenetz’s 12-year tenure will be over.
• Longtime Callicoon Highway Superintendent and Republican Jim Hess is also out, with Democratic challenger David Erlwein retaining a commanding 52-vote lead.
• A scant three voters favored Republican Nestor Olesnycky over Forestburgh Town Justice incumbent and Democrat Brian Gager, albeit making the race still too close to call.
• Newcomer and Republican Tina Palecek has a 10-vote lead over Democratic rival Larry Fishman in the race for Highland Supervisor, though that could easily change. (Elections officials said the township suffered some voting machine problems, but voters were provided with emergency paper ballots to log their choices.)
• Liberty Supervisor and Republican Frank DeMayo was holding onto his seat, but Democrat John Schmidt was only 65 votes behind.
• Town of Tusten Councilman Lewis Meckle, a Republican, was the lowest vote-getter of the four candidates running for two Tusten Council seats. Fellow Republican Lisa Dowling and Democrat Charles Hoffman will likely get the seats, although Hoffman leads Democrat Tom Prendergast by just two votes.
And the Winners are:
By Dan Hust
PARTY KEY:
*=incumbent; B=Bottom Line; C=Conservative; D=Democrat; I=Independence; M=Mamakating First; N=New Beginning; O=Open Government; P=People’s Choice; R=Republican; W=Working Families
SULLIVAN COUNTY — Listed below are the unofficial results of the multitude of races voters weighed in on this past Tuesday.
Since thousands of absentee ballots are yet to be counted (Nov. 14-16 are the hearing dates), no one can officially be deemed a winner or loser, but the highest vote-getters are listed first.
(* indicates the candidate is an incumbent.)
Statewide
(These results pertain to Sullivan County votes only.)
For the Third Judicial District, NYS Supreme Court Justice (three positions open):
• Joseph Teresi* (D,R,C,I) – 12,258
• George Ceresia Jr.* (D,R,C,I) – 11,752
• Christopher Cahill (D,R,I) – 11,636
• Cathryn M. Dole (C) – 1,181
The state also proposed amending the NYS Constitution to allow the state to give an acre of Adirondacks forest preserve land to the Town of Long Lake to drill drinking water wells for the hamlet of Raquette Lake.
In exchange, the state would receive a minimum of 12 acres equal to or greater in value than the one acre it gives away. Those acres would then become part of the preserve.
The proposition passed statewide, with local voters choosing similarly.
Proposition 1 fared thusly in Sullivan County:
• Yes – 3,436
• No – 1,699
Countywide
Unless otherwise noted, voters could choose only one person to fill the listed position.
For Sullivan County Court
Judge and Surrogate:
• Burton Ledina* (R,I,C) – 9,736
• Cindy Barber (D,W) – 7,024
For Sullivan County Clerk:
• Daniel Briggs (R,I,C) – 8,798
• Neil Gilberg* (D,W) – 7,474
For Sullivan County Coroner:
• Alan Kesten (R) – 7,403
• Victor Marinello (D,C) – 6,699
For District 1 Legislator:
• David Sager (R,C) – 1,296
• Patrick Harrison (D,W) – 1,203
For District 2 Legislator:
• Kathy LaBuda* (D,W) – 1,311
• Charles Penna (R,I) – 717
• Stephen Barnes (C) – 99
For District 3 Legislator:
• Elwin Wood* (D,I,W) – 1,133
• Tony Leone (R) – 750
For District 4 Legislator:
• Jonathan Rouis* (D,C) – 750
For District 5 Legislator:
• Frank Armstrong* (D,C) – 1,268
• Allen Hauser (R) – 858
For District 6 Legislator:
• Jodi Goodman* (R,I,C) – 899
• Peter Gozza (D,W) – 700
For District 7 Legislator:
• Leni Binder* (R,C,B) – 975
• Mark Sherman (D,W) – 583
For District 8 Legislator:
• Ronald Hiatt* (D,C) – 843
• Bob Kunis (R,P) – 692
For District 9 Legislator:
• Alan Sorensen (R,I,C) – 1,111
• Sam Wohl* (D,W) – 860
Town of Bethel
For Supervisor:
• Daniel Sturm (D,W,N) – 749
• Harold Russell* (R,C) – 657
For Clerk:
• Rita Sheehan* (R,C) – 932
For Justice:
• Ray Neuenhoff (R,C) – 682
• Howard Block (D,N) – 651
For Council (two seats open):
• Robert Blais* (D,C) – 706
• Vicky Vassmer-Simpson (D,W, N) – 675
• Andrew LaPolt* (R,C) – 522
• Denise Frangipane (O) – 410
For Highway Superintendent:
• Lynden Lilley (D,N) – 540
• Bernard Cohen* (C) – 477
• William Crumley (R) – 424
For Tax Collector:
• Debra Gabriel* (D,C) – 905
• Marion Madaffari (R) – 418
Town of Callicoon
For Supervisor:
• Linda Babicz (D) – 482
• Gregg Semenetz* (R) – 475
For Clerk:
• Janet Brahm* (R) – 635
For Justice:
• James Hubert (R) – 565
• Preston Lyon (D) – 359
For Council (two seats open):
• David Kuebler (R) – 513
• Howard Fuchs* (R) – 494
• Joseph Cullen (D,C) – 416
• Sonja Hedlund (D,W) – 405
For Highway Superintendent:
• David Erlwein (D) – 520
• James Hess* (R) – 468
For Tax Collector:
• Maureen Schlott* (D,R) – 954
Town of Cochecton
For Supervisor:
Sal Indelicato* (D,C) – 341
For Council (two seats open):
• Gary Maas* (D,R,C) – 443
• Larry Richardson* (D,C) – 257
• Edwin Grund (R) – 243
For Highway Superintendent:
• Brian DuBois* (D,C) – 377
For Tax Collector:
• Eileen Hennessy* (D,C) – 283
Town of Delaware
For Supervisor:
• James Scheutzow* (D) – 477
For Clerk/Tax Collector:
• Tess McBeath* (D) – 533
For Justice:
• H. John Kramer* (R,I,C) – 470
For Council (two seats open):
• Kevin Connors* (D) – 431
• Kara McElroy* (D) – 430
• Edwin Chellis (R) – 325
For Highway Superintendent:
• William Eschenberg* (R) – 420
• Chris Hermann (D) – 350
For Assessor:
• Verl Ringgenberg* (R) – 356
• William Berger (D) – 319
Town of Fallsburg
For Supervisor:
• Steve Levine* (D,C) – 1,289
• Kenneth DeMars (R,W) – 1,069
For Justice (two seats open):
• Ivan Kalter* (D,C) – 1,494
• Bart Rasnick* (R,C,B) – 1,490
For Council (two seats open):
• Joe Levner (D,C) – 1,177
• Arnold Seletsky* (D,C) – 1,080
• Joseph Perrello Sr. (R,B) – 921
• Joseph Collura (R) – 685
• Ada Cole (W) – 356
• Kevin McDaniel (W) – 264
For Council (to fill the seat vacated by Neil Gilberg):
• Nathan Steingart (D) – 1,107
• Deborah Chandler (R,W) – 907
Town of Forestburgh
For Supervisor:
• James Galligan* (D,C) – 236
For Clerk:
• Joanne Nagoda* (R,C) – 255
For Justice:
• Nestor Olesnycky (R,C) – 167
• Brian Gager* (D) – 164
For Council (two seats open):
• John Galligan* (D,C) – 225
• Michael Creegan (R,C) – 210
• Ken Schultz* (D,O) – 143
For Highway Superintendent:
• Dan Hogue Jr.* (D,C) – 252
For Tax Collector:
• Margaret Abdoo* (D) – 249
Town of Fremont
For Supervisor:
• James Greier* (D) – 273
For Clerk:
• Paul Kellam* (D) – 276
For Council (two seats open):
• John Hubert* (R) – 264
• George Conklin* (R) – 221
• Philip Banuat (D) – 166
For Highway Superintendent:
• Joseph Niero* (D) – 276
For Tax Collector:
• Deborah Forsblom* (R) – 283
Town of Highland
For Supervisor:
• Tina Palecek (R) – 337
• Larry Fishman (D,C) – 327
For Council (two seats open):
• Frederick Bosch (R,C) – 421
• Paul Zimmermann* (D,C,W) – 321
• Kenneth Byrne (D,W) – 263
• David Sherman (R) – 244
For Highway Superintendent:
• Norman Sutherland* (D,R,C) – 585
Town of Liberty
For Supervisor:
• Francis DeMayo* (R,I) – 895
• John Schmidt (D) – 830
For Clerk/Tax Collector:
• Laurie Dutcher* (R,C) – 1,233
• Deborah Manley (D) – 487
For Justice:
• Brian Rourke* (R,I,C) – 1,230
For Council (two seats open):
• Tom Hasbrouck* (R,I,C) – 1,233
• Lynn Killian* (R,I) – 1,048
• Sean Hanofee (D,C) – 910
Town of Lumberland
For Justice:
• William McKerrell Jr.* (R) – 295
For Council (two seats open):
• Jay Shafer (R,C) – 269
• Joseph Carr* (R) – 226
• Keith Gilmour (D) – 142
• Van Krzywicki (D,W) – 128
Town of Mamakating
For Supervisor:
• Robert Fiore (D,W) – 988
• Nick Salomone Jr. (R,I) – 688
• John Sean Moriarty (C) – 280
For Clerk:
• Jean Dougherty* (R) – 1,225
For Justice:
• Joel Welsh* (D,C) – 1,351
For Council (two seats open):
• Robert Justus (R,I,C) – 1,075
• Teddy Brebbia (D,M) – 1,029
• Regina Saunders* (R,I,C) – 969
• Richard Morris (D,W) – 850
For Highway Superintendent:
• Rich Johnson* (R,I,C) – 1,174
• Riley “Buddy” Platt (D) – 877
For Receiver of Taxes:
• Janet Evans* (R) – 1,178
Town of Neversink
For Supervisor:
• Greg Goldstein* (D,R,C) – 809
For Clerk:
• Lisa Garigliano* (D,R,C) – 788
For Justice:
• Barbara Garigliano* (D,R,C) – 780
For Council (two seats open):
• Carol Furman* (R,C) – 592
• Bryan Delaney* (D,C) – 532
For Highway Superintendent:
• Gary VanValkenburg (D,R) – 822
Town of Rockland
For Supervisor:
• Patrick Casey (R) – 615
For Justice (two seats open):
• Harold Madison* (R,C) – 724
• Franklin Gibson* (R) – 605
For Council (two seats open):
• Glen Carlson* (D) – 595
• William Roser Jr. (D,C) – 543
• Joan Robinson (R) – 441
For Highway Superintendent:
• Theodore Hartling* (R,C) – 752
Town of Thompson
For Supervisor:
• Anthony Cellini* (D,C) – 1,976
• David Appel (R) – 849
For Justice:
• Perry Meltzer* (D,C) – 1,708
For Council (two seats open):
• Peter Briggs* (D,C) – 1,736
• Moniquka Diaz-Corley* (D,C) – 1,362
• Craig Johnson (R,P) – 1,207
• Tony Poli (R,P) – 1,152
For Receiver of Taxes:
• Dori Huebner (R,C) – 1,232
• Janet Siano (D) – 1,208
Town of Tusten
For Supervisor:
• Bernard Johnson* (R,C) – 246
• Nancy Dos Santos (D) – 184
For Council (two seats open):
• Lisa Dowling (R) – 215
• Charles Hoffman (D) – 210
• Thomas Prendergast (D) – 208
• Lewis Meckle Jr.* (R) – 180
For Highway Superintendent:
• George Kinch* (R,C) – 298
Tusten voters also determined they did not want to change the highway superintendent’s term of office from two years to four.
Proposition 2 fared thusly in Tusten:
• No – 372
• Yes – 231
Too close to call in Town of Callicoon
By Jeanne Sager
JEFFERSONVILLE — It’s not over yet.
For the first time since 1995, Town of Callicoon Supervisor Gregg Semenetz faced opposition at the polls – this time in the form of Youngsville businesswoman Linda Babicz.
Initial reports put Babicz in the lead – by a slim 7-vote margin – but 45 absentee ballots were sent to Callicoon voters by the Board of Elections
With a requirement that they be postmarked by Nov. 5 but a final deadline of Nov. 13, the race remains too close to call.
Babicz carried Voting District 2, where ballots were cast in Callicoon Center.
Typically Democratic, district 2 gave Babicz 56 percent of the vote.
Districts 1 and 3 – based in Youngsville and Jeffersonville respectively – each went to Semenetz.
Babicz was encouraged by her lead.
“The elections were running half and half,” she said.
With 29 absentee ballots already on hand at the board of elections in Monticello, Babicz is wagering she’ll retain her lead.
“In Youngsville, typically pretty Republican, I did fairly well,” she said. In fact the candidates were neck and neck in Babicz’s hometown, where Semenetz had just a 6-vote edge.
“In Jeffersonville, I didn’t have high expectations, but I did fairly well there, too,” she said.
There Semenetz – who just recently moved to North Branch from an apartment over his real estate office in the village – got 54 percent of the vote to Babicz’s 46 percent.
He’s still confident he can keep a job he’s had for the past 10 years.
“If I win, I win, if I don’t, I don’t,” he said pragmatically. “I won’t get dirty like they did.
“They accused the entire town government of improprieties,” Semenetz continued. “Show me what they were.
“Things ain’t over,” he said Thursday. “I’m more upbeat now than I was yesterday.”
Of the absentees, at least four have the surname Semenetz, he explained.
The rest, both candidates agree, are anybody’s guess.
They’ll both be on hand in Monticello next week when the Sullivan County Board of Elections begins its review of the absentee ballots.
There are 1,662 countywide already in the office, said Elections Commissioner Rodney Gaebel.
Traditionally, they’re opened the day after the deadline in alphabetical order according to township.
With close races in Callicoon, Highland and Tusten, those three townships will be pulled out and reviewed first, then elections inspectors will revert to the alphabetical system.
That means Babicz – part of a Democratic team that mounted a huge campaign to unseat the town’s Republican majority – and 10-year incumbent Semenetz will get their answers first.
The ballots are not expected to affect any of the other races in Callicoon where Republicans held on to all but the superintendent of highways position with the successful bid by David Erlwein to unseat four-term superintendent Jim Hess.
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