Primary elections scheduled across area

PHOTOGRAPHER: Stephen Williams

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Polling places will be open from noon to 9 p.m. Thursday across the region in communities that have party primaries.

There will be voting in four state Senate races, three state Assembly districts and a handful of local races.

In one of the highest-profile primaries, Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione is challenging incumbent Roy J. McDonald in a Republican primary in the 43rd Senate District, which includes eastern Saratoga County and most of Rensselaer County.

In a separate Conservative Party primary, Marchione is party-endorsed but faces a challenge from Ed Gilbert of East Greenbush.

In the 44th Senate District in Albany County, eight-term incumbent Democrat Neil D. Breslin faces a primary challenge from Shawn M. Morse, chairman of the Albany County Legislature.

In the newly configured 46th Senate District, Democrats Thomas E. Dolan of Coeymans, Monica Arias Miranda of Rotterdam and Cecilia Tkaczyk of Duanesburg will face off in a primary for the chance to run in November against Republican George Amedore, currently a state assemblyman.

In the 51st Senate District, which includes all of Schoharie County, 26-year incumbent Republican James L. Seward faces a challenge from James W. Blake of Schenevus.

In Assembly primaries, a host of Democrats are looking to replace retiring incumbents.

In the 108th District, Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari of Cohoes is retiring after 22 years. Cohoes Mayor John T. McDonald III and Albany Common Council President Carolyn McLaughlin are running.

In the 109th District, six Democrats are vying to replace Assemblyman John McEneny of Albany, who is retiring after 20 years.

The candidates are Albany Common Council member Frank J. Commisso Jr., Albany County Legislator Christopher Higgins, former Albany County Executive Jim Coyne, former state Associate Labor Commissioner Patricia Fahy, attorney William J. McCarthy Jr. and Assembly staffer Margarita Perez.

Fahy and Republican nominee Ted Danz will square off in an Independence Party primary. Danz is also running a write-in campaign against Joseph Sullivan for the Conservative nomination.

Four Democrats are contending in the 110th District to replace the retiring Robert Reilly: Niskayuna Town Supervisor Joe Landry, Albany County legislators Philip G. Steck and Timothy D. Nichols and former Assembly staffer Kevin O. Frazier.

In an Independence party primary in the 110th, Steck, Landry, and Frazier are competing with Jennifer A. Whalen, who has the Republican line for the seat locked up. Landry is also running a write-in campaign for the Working Families Party line; the party’s nomination has gone to Steck.

In an Albany County primary, defense attorney Lee Kindlon is challenging two-term incumbent David Soares in a Democratic primary for district attorney.

There will also be a Democratic primary for a Schenectady City Council seat. Robert Sanders is challenging Marion Porterfield, who currently holds the seat after being appointed to a vacancy.

Primary winners will go on to compete in the general election Tuesday, Nov. 6.