Johnstown town clerk upsets incumbent supervisor

PHOTOGRAPHER: Marcy Velte

Primary elections decided the outcome of 15 Republican contests Tuesday across Fulton County, with several challengers beating incumbents.

Unofficial results have 20-year Town Clerk Nancy MacVean winning the primary race for Johnstown town supervisor over incumbent Jack Wilson. With 29 absentee ballots left to be counted Tuesday night, MacVean led Wilson, 233-151.

In a primary for a seat on the Town Board, incumbent Beth Schloicka led with 240 votes to challengers Daryl Baldwin with 211 and Charles Mault with 140.

In Gloversville, challengers pulled off upsets in the 4th and 5th Ward supervisor races. Michael Ponticello won in the 5th Ward over incumbent Michael Rooney, 110-42, while Charles Potter was the winner in the 4th Ward over former councilwoman Shirley Savage, 53-21.

Meanwhile, the Broadalbin highway superintendent race had incumbent Donald Loveless Jr. leading with 81 votes, Lancy Winney had 79, Michael Greco 74 and Lee Hollenbeck 63, with 13 absentee ballots. Winney and Greco also ran on the Conservative line, with Winney scoring 4 votes to Greco’s 1

In Mayfield, incumbent Supervisor Richard Argotsinger won a primary to keep his position with 273 votes. Jack Putnam followed with 204 votes and Fredrick Castiglione trailed with 15 votes. For town clerk, incumbent Dorothy Hart easily topped challenger Cheryl Gifford, 320-110.

In Perth, Gay Lewandowski and Peter Betz both pulled in 56 votes for Town Board, with newcomer Charles Smith receiving 23. There are 15 absentee ballots outstanding.

In Northampton, Ivar Anderson led challenger William Gritsavage for a town council seat, 159-157, while Guy Poulin picked up 91 votes.