It may prove to be one of the skimpiest turnouts in recent memory as party members vote today in low-key primary elections, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t “hot spots” galore around Western New York.

Common Council races in the City of Buffalo, a mayoral primary in Lackawanna and torrid supervisor races in Evans and West Seneca are expected to ignite some interest around Erie County, even if a paucity of real races elsewhere will most likely make today a slow one for workers at Erie County’s 389 polling places.

“I can’t imagine it won’t be anything else,” said Dennis E. Ward, the county’s Democratic elections commissioner.

While traditional party contests dominate today’s ballot, a few unique matchups also will attract interest at polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Erie County and noon to 9 p. m. in all other upstate counties.

Those races include a special election in the 144th Assembly District for the seat previously held by Buffalo Democrat Sam Hoyt. It will function as a general election that is open to all registered voters of the district and will result in a new Assemblyman assuming the seat soon. The election features Democrat Sean M. Ryan, Republican Sean P. Kipp and the Green Party’s Gregory Horn. It stems from Hoyt’s June resignation to accept a top economic development post in the Cuomo administration.

Today’s contests include Independence Party primaries for county executive and county clerk. The minor party matchups are expected to draw few voters but will provide an early test for Republican Erie County Executive Chris Collins as he faces Richard L. Woll, an Independence activist challenging the state party’s nomination of the incumbent.

Some local GOP types are calling it a “nuisance” primary orchestrated by Democrats to distract Collins from his Nov. 8 re-election contest against Democrat Mark C. Poloncarz, the county comptroller. But Collins spokesman Stefan Mychajliw said Monday the campaign is not taking “one single vote for granted” and is waging a full-scale effort to make an impressive showing in the Independence primary.

That included telephone calls personally made by the county executive to Independence voters as late as Saturday, as well as automated calls and door-to-door visits. Mychajliw said the early test is allowing the campaign to make a “dry run” in its operation before the big election Nov. 8.

“In that way, we’re seeing it as a positive,” he said. “We’d rather work out the kinks now than face problems in November.”

Another Independence primary will pit Republican Christopher L. Jacobs, selected by state party leaders, against Charles G. Masich, a registered member of the party, as they compete for county clerk. Erie County Republican Chairman Nicholas A. Langworthy said both contests stem from the influence of Democratic headquarters in the Independence Party throughout several municipalities, but he expects GOP victories in both elections.

“These are not actual candidates for office,” he said. “They have put their names out there to hinder the major candidates.”

The contests that may produce the most interest, however, are four Democratic primaries for the Buffalo Common Council. The most active appears to be a three-way affair in the University District featuring incumbent Bonnie E. Russell, Pamela D. Cahill and Rochelle A. Ricchiazzi.

Other races include incumbent Demone A. Smith and DeMario J. Badger in Masten, incumbent Joseph Golombek Jr. and Kenneth J. Phillips in North, and incumbent David A. Franczyk and Samuel A. Herbert in Fillmore.

Another top attraction is the Democratic primary for mayor of Lackawanna featuring Geoffrey M. Szymanski, Dion J. Watkins, Patrick A. McCusker and Charles Jaworksi. The Republican contest pits McCusker against John J. Nowak.

Supervisor contests include a Republican primary in Alden between Harry F. Milligan and Ronald L. Snyder; a Democratic affair in Evans featuring incumbent Francis J. Pordum and Howard M. Frawley; Democrats Jeffrey T. Krauss and incumbent Thomas R. O’Boyle in North Collins; and Democrats Wallace C. Piotrowski and Sheila M. Meegan in West Seneca.

Several other town contests involve races for town board, town clerk, town justice and highway superintendent.

Other races in today’s election include a six-way Democratic contest for seats on the Buffalo City Court, featuring incumbents David M. Manz, Susan M. Eagan, Joseph A. Fiorella and Robert T. Russell Jr., as well as Diane Y. Wray and Anthony L. Pendergrass. Gillian D. Brown joins Manz, Fiorella, Eagan and Russell in a Working Families primary.

In Erie County Family Court contests, Democrat Sharon M. LoVallo and Republican incumbent Patricia A. Maxwell are facing off in Democratic, Republican and Independence primaries. Candidates of any party are allowed to cross-file in the primaries of other parties in Family Court elections.

rmccarthy@buffnews.comnull