Trio of Amsterdam races too close to call

PHOTOGRAPHER: Edward Munger Jr.

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Three races in the city of Amsterdam were too close to call after all ballots were counted Tuesday night.

In the race for mayor, incumbent Democrat Ann Thane led her predecessor in that office, Republican Joseph Emanuele III by less than 50 votes, 1,585 votes to 1,532.

The city controller’s race was even closer, with Republican Matthew A. Agresta leading Democrat Ronald G. Wierzbicki by just 27 votes, 1,515 to 1,488.

Election officials said there are 193 outstanding absentee ballots citywide.

Meanwhile, a write-in challenge to 5th Ward Supervisor Karl Baia by former city assessor Michael Chiara may have been successful. Unofficial results had Baia pulling in 280 votes, but 286 write-in votes were recorded. Those write-in votes have yet to be identified, however, leaving the outcome of the race in doubt.

Common Council

Republican Joseph M. Isabel defeated Democrat Kenneth R. Mazur to represent the First Ward on the Common Council, 577 to 477, according to unofficial tallies.

Democrat Valerie C. Beekman ran unopposed for Second Ward alderwoman, and Republican Gina M. DeRossi defeated Democrat Thomas J. Georgia for the Third Ward seat, 417 to 256.

Democrat David J. Dybas defeated Republican Diane M. Hatzenbuhler for the Fourth Ward seat 275 to 192. Republican Richard J. Leggiero ran unopposed to represent the Fifth Ward.

County supervisor

Republican Vito Greco ran unopposed to represent the city’s First Ward on the county Board of Supervisors, and Democrat Jeffrey P. Stark ran unopposed to claim the Second Ward supervisor position.

Third Ward Supervisor Ronald J. Barone Sr. was re-elected unopposed, and Republican Barbara S. Wheeler was re-elected without opposition to represent the city’s Fourth Ward.

Town races

• Amsterdam: Town Supervisor Thomas P. DiMezza, a Democrat, ran unopposed. Democrat Dave Thibodeau beat out Republican Harold R. Weaver for the town highway superintendent post, 833 to 323. Terry A. Bieniek, a Democrat, and Alexander Kuchis, a Republican, ran unopposed for Town Council seats. Democrats Edmund Kowalczyk Jr. and Donna M. Szurek ran unopposed for assessor positions.

• Canajoharie: Republican Philip J. Gizzi Jr. ran unopposed for town justice, and Republicans Judy Burgess and John J. Toomey Jr. ran unopposed for Town Council seats.

• Charleston: Incumbent Republican Supervisor Shayne T. Walters defeated Democratic opponent Christoph M. Piening, a former supervisor, 270 to 231, with as many as 67 absentee ballots yet to be counted. Independent Jon Blake Benelli earned 12 votes.

Republican Jeffrey Downes defeated Democrat Stanley M. Korona Jr. for the highway superintendent post, 270 to 257.

Winning two Town Council seats were Democrat Robert S. Sullivan and Republican Jeffrey T. Bivins with 307 and 288 votes, respectively. Democrat Joanne E. Proper earned 261 votes. Republican Town Clerk Diane C. Ferguson ran unopposed for re-election, as did Republican Justice Jean A. Walters.

• Florida: Incumbent Highway Superintendent William G. Weller, a Democrat, beat out independent candidate Douglas F. Hebert, 487 to 258, with as many as 23 absentee ballots to be counted for town races.

Incumbent Republican Town Supervisor William Strevy staved off 286 write-in votes, earning 416 votes for re-election. Republican Town Clerk Jacquelyn Francisco ran unopposed. Running unopposed for Town Council seats were Democrat Steven M. Rackowski and Republican Ronald Phillips. Democrat Karen B. Sylvia and Republican Wilda Lang ran unopposed for assessor positions.

• Glen: Republican Jerry S. Rose ran unopposed for town justice. Also unopposed were Town Board candidates Henry A. Shatley and Ronald C. Crewell, both Republicans, and Thomas J. Murray Jr. also a Republican, who claimed an unexpired term on the Town Board. Democrat Stella D. Gittle and Republican Wilson H. Nethaway were unopposed for assessor seats.

• Minden: Republican Thomas Quackenbush ran unopposed for supervisor, and Susan C. Buddles, also a Republican, was unopposed for town justice.

Winning seats on the Town Council were Republicans Karolann Grimm and Douglas R. Simmons with 259 and 247 votes, respectively. Independence candidate Ronald Bentz earned 75 votes.

Elected as assessors were Cindea L. Bradley, a Democrat, and Cheryl Reese, a Conservative.

• Mohawk: The most votes for two seats on the Town Board were earned by Bruce J. Pavlus, a Republican, with 260 votes, and Anthony R. Bruno Jr., a Republican, with 258 votes. Jerome M. Fryc, a Democrat, earned 203 votes, and Kelly L. Wilder, a Democrat, received 233 votes. There were as many as 39 absentee ballots expected to be counted.

Incumbent Republican Town Justice Kathleen R. Buck ran unopposed for re-election.

• Palatine: Republican Supervisor Brian D. Sweet ran unopposed for re-election, as did Town Council candidates Michele J. Whiteman, a Republican, and Marcia A. Matis, a Conservative.

• Root: Republican Town Supervisor John Thayer ran unopposed, as did Republican Town Justice Thomas W. Eriksen. Winning Town Council seats were Republicans Evelyn B. Lindley and John Van Kersen.

• St. Johnsville: Election numbers put the race for supervisor even with 276 votes each for incumbent Supervisor Dominick Stagliano and Republican challenger Wayne M. Handy, leaving the seat up to 30 absentee ballots to be counted next week.

Winning seats on the Town Council were Republican William A. Farber, with 408 votes, and Democrat Gordon Brownell, with 336 votes. Republican Ronald A. Hezel earned 160 votes.

Coming out on top of a three-way race for highway superintendent was Democrat Jeffrey A. Doxtater with 323 votes. Independent candidates Darin R. Battisti and John H. Swartz received 145 and 86 votes, respectively.