Election Day
Profile low for elections at county, local levels
As voters go to the polls, Collins factor gets 1st test
High-profile contests are absent from today's ballot, city turnout is expected to be low, and no single race has captured the attention of the Western New York electorate.
Still, voters are trekking to the polls for Election Day 2009, with countywide offices at stake, as well as major positions in cities and towns.
Erie County voters will decide on a sheriff and a county comptroller, along with all 15 seats on the County Legislature. In addition, three State Supreme Court seats are being contested, and there are elections for supervisors in Amherst, Orchard Park and Hamburg plus in several smaller towns.
In Niagara County, voters will decide whether to shrink the size of the County Legislature from 19 members to 15.
Competitive races include a mayoral confrontation in North Tonawanda, City Council races in Niagara Falls, Lockport and North Tonawanda, and battles for town supervisor in Lewiston, Lockport, Pendleton and Wheatfield.
Oh, yes, and the mayor of Buffalo is also on today's ballot. But that office was decided back in September in the Democratic primary, so Mayor Byron W. Brown will be elected to a second term without opposition.
Much of the attention of political professionals and regular voters alike will be focused on county races, where Erie County Executive Chris Collins has invested significant political capital in several candidates.
Indeed, he takes no issue with the idea that today's balloting will serve as a referendum on his first 22 months in office.
"There will certainly be a small piece of that," the county executive said last month.
"It's a referendum on our concept of running government like a business."
Collins has concentrated on Republican candidates for the Legislature against Democratic incumbents, including Kevin R. Hardwick against Michele M. Iannello in District 10, Lynne Dixon against Robert B. Reynolds in District 12 and Shelly D. Schratz against Thomas A. Loughran in District 14.
The county executive promised political and financial support for his favored candidates, as he and the GOP attempt to narrow the current 12-3 advantage held by Democrats in the Legislature.
Collins also has been a key backer of the Republican candidate for comptroller, Philip C. Kadet, a retired accounting executive who is challenging Democratic incumbent Mark C. Poloncarz.
And a major contest for sheriff has developed between incumbent Republican Timothy B. Howard and Democratic challenger John A. Glascott, a captain in the Cheektowaga Police Department.
Because there is no contest for mayor of Buffalo in the general election this year, turnout is expected to be low in the county's major Democratic stronghold. Many political observers see that as an advantage for Republicans.
In addition, the more Republican-friendly suburbs may generate significant turnout in places such as Amherst, where Republican Barry A. Weinstein is running against Democrat Alice J. Kryzan and Conservative William L. Kindel for town supervisor.
Other major races for supervisor are in Orchard Park, where Republican Patrick J. Keem is running against Democrat Janis A. Colarusso, and Hamburg, where Democrat Patricia M. Michalek and Independence candidate Dennis C. Gaughan are challenging Republican incumbent Steven J. Walters.
Niagara County Legislature Minority Leader Dennis F. Virtuoso, D-Niagara Falls, raised concerns last week about the downsizing vote involving his legislative body.
Virtuoso said he thinks the strategy of the Republican majority is to saw off chunks of Niagara Falls, staple them to Legislature districts dominated by voters in adjoining towns and thus marginalize the city.
Niagara Falls is sure to lose county seats. It now has five, but a combination of falling population relative to the rest of the county and fewer available seats might cut that to three, or even two.
Legislature Chairman William L. Ross, C-Wheatfield, pointed out that small pieces of Niagara Falls were joined to mostly town districts during the 1990s. "It's all done on numbers," he said, "but I can guarantee you, Niagara Falls will have fair representation."
Nine of the county's legislative districts are competitive.
Along with contests for City Council seats, key races involve mayor of North Tonawanda featuring one-term incumbent Democrat Lawrence V. Soos against City Clerk-Treasurer Robert G. Ortt, a Republican.
Democratic Supervisors Fred M. Newlin II in Lewiston and James A. Reister in Pendleton face challenges, respectively, from GOP Highway Superintendent Steven L. Reiter and Pendleton Town Board member David A. Leible. Town of Lockport Supervisor Marc R. Smith, a Republican, faces a challenge on the Democratic line from David Mongielo.
Chances are good that Wheatfield will have a new supervisor as Republican Robert B. Cliffe vies with Democrat Samuel Conti Jr. Incumbent Timothy E. Demler, who lost to Cliffe in the GOP primary, is waging a write-in campaign.
The watchword in most other Western New York counties is "uncontested," as dozens of incumbents will retun to office with no opposition.
Polls are open throughout the state from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
To see stories from Erie and Niagara counties written in advance of Election Day, visit www.buffalonews.com/elections, and visit buffalonews.com later tonight for election stories and vote totals.
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