Wills plans to campaign as a write-in for Amsterdam mayor

PHOTOGRAPHER: Edward Munger Jr.

Amsterdam 4th Ward Alderman William Wills, having lost primaries earlier this month for two separate lines on November’s ballot, will pursue a write-in campaign in his quest to lead the city as its mayor.

Wills lost the Conservative line in the Sept. 13 primary, 34-4, to former mayor Joseph Emanuele III, the Republican candidate. He lost the Democratic line to incumbent Mayor Ann Thane, 422–332, according to official results posted last week by the Montgomery County Board of Elections.

Rebuffed in his request to debate both prior to the primary, Wills on Friday said he intends to call for debates with both of the other candidates because he is the only one in the field who hasn’t already served as mayor.

He said he sees the results of the Sept. 13 primary as skewed because of the low post-flooding turnout.

“The disaster took a lot of people’s minds away, and rightfully so, from politics,” Wills said.

Though a write-in campaign may be a long shot, Wills said he intends to attend events and go door-to-door to make sure voters know he’s still a contender.

Thane on Friday said she doesn’t spend much time thinking about what her competitors are doing.

“I can’t really focus on what the actions of the other candidates mean for me. I just have to do the job to the best of my ability. I think that’s always been my focus,” Thane said.

Emanuele did not return a call seeking comment Friday.

OTHER RACES

Official results were officially released last week in other primaries, including some tight ones.

u The victor in some races, including the Democratic primary for City Controller, was unclear until absentee ballots were counted, but official results show Ronald G. Wierzbicki took that line on the ballot, beating out Manfred Phemister, 385–353.

Matthew A. Agresta knocked incumbent Controller Heather Reynicke out of contention for the seat altogether, 298-144, according to the Board of Elections.

These results mean a field of three on the Nov. 8 ballot for controller: Wierzbicki on the Democratic and Conservative lines, Agresta on the Republican line and Phemister on the Working Families Party line.

u Jeffrey P. Stark, already the Democratic candidate for Amsterdam 2nd Ward supervisor, also took the Republican line on the ballot in a write-in campaign. He beat out Megan Barnes, 24-3, according to the Board of Elections, and will be seated as 2nd Ward supervisor at the start of 2012.

u The Republican primary for Charleston Town Justice left a tight margin for incumbent Justice Jean Walters, who defeated Brenda A. Hayner, 77–71.

Incumbent Clerk/Tax Collector Diane C. Ferguson beat out Deborah A. Rickard in the Republican primary 91–56.

u In St. Johnsville, Jeffrey A. Doxtater won the Democratic line for highway superintendent with 65 votes. He beat out John Howard Swartz and Darin R. Battisti, who garnered 41 and 56 votes, respectively.