County Executive Pat Ryan of Gardiner coasted to his first full four-year term Tuesday night, with the Democrat easily winning a rematch election with Ulster County Conservative Party Chairman Jack Hayes, also of Gardiner, who was running on the Republican line as well.
According to unofficial results Tuesday night, Saugerties Town Supervisor Fred Costello Jr. fended off a challenge from Councilman Paul Andreassen to win another two-year term, while incumbent Councilwoman Leeanne Thornton won re-election and newcomer Mike Ivino took a seat on the town board.
The referendum question, “Shall the annual contribution of the Town of Gardiner for the operating budget of the Gardiner Library be increased by $46,846 to the sum of $276,076.00 annually?” was overwhelmingly approved by the voters by 1,233 to 523 votes, a 70.22 percent to 29.78 percent split.
This year there were no intra-party contests in local New Paltz elections, and no contest higher than the county level to draw voters in. With Democrats holding a sizable majority, there weren’t even Republican challengers for the two town council seats, making the election effortless for incumbent Julie Seyfert-Lillis and newcomer Alexandria Baer. The same was true for county legislator Jim Delaune, who sailed to a sleepy victory, as did town clerk Rosanna Mazzaccari-Rosenkranse. In contested races, the Democrats beat their opponents handily: town justice James Bacon will be returned to the bench for another term, and Eve Walter will succeed Hector Rodriguez in the county legislature, rather than Donna Smith.
The ballot question, “Should the terms for office for the Town of Rosendale supervisor and the Town of Rosendale superintendent of highways be increased from two years to four years, effective for terms commencing January 1, 2020?” was approved by a vote of 1,007 to 742: a comfortable 57.58 to 42.42 percent margin. The town races were uncontested.
Info on local town races and ballot initiatives.
The Ulster County Legislature District 4 race is a tale of two challengers. Democrat Brian Cahill and Republican Andi Turco-Levin each hope to fill a seat left vacant by the passing of James Maloney in July. Maloney, who was also the assessor in the Town of Ulster, has had his term completed by his wife, Brenda Maloney.
District 10 (Lloyd, Marlborough) It’s poised to be another close election between Mary Beth Maio, the Republican incumbent, and Democratic
The underlying theme for this year’s election in Olive — with two full slates of candidates vying for the town’s first open supervisor’s position in years, as well as an open town justice spot (and two races for town council with four candidates) — depends on which party you’re listening to.
A look at what Saugerties voters can expect on the ballot Tuesday, November 5.