Voters in Saratoga County will have an opportunity to weigh in on myriad town races - and one contested countywide post - in Tuesday's general election.
Longtime Saratoga County Sheriff James Bowen is the only candidate facing a re-election challenge in which voters throughout the county can vote.
The Republican, who joined the department 44 years ago, is running against Jason Longton, a one-time Corinth police officer who was fired for alleged insubordination.
Running as an independent, Longton has alleged throughout his campaign that politics is interfering with law enforcement efforts in the county.
The only other countywide race involves District Attorney James Murphy, a Republican, who is running unopposed.
At the town level, meanwhile, seven of the county's 22 supervisors are facing challenges.
Those supervisors who face opposition include Moreau Democrat Preston Jenkins; Shawn Connelly, who's running on a third-party line in Stillwater; Patti Southworth, an independent from Ballston; and Republicans Phil Barrett, of Clifton Park; John Lawler, of Waterford; Paul Sausville, of Malta; and Frank Thompson, of Milton.
Providence Supervisor Richard Hunter, a Democrat, is the only supervisor who is voluntarily leaving the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. John Collyer, a Republican, is running unopposed to replace him.
Two supervisors - Republican Jean Raymond, supervisor of Edinburg, and Republican Tom Richardson, supervisor in Mechanicville - are not up for re-election this year because their terms have not expired.
There are also a number of contested seats on town boards in the county.
In Wilton, Robert Pulsifer and Bob Rice, Republicans who triumphed over incumbents in a September primary, face Democrats Patricia Tuz and Timothy Huff.
In Greenfield, incumbents Peter Coseo, a Democrat, and Daniel Pemrick, a Republican, face newcomer Walter Chandler, a Republican, in a race for two open seats.
In Hadley, incumbent James Brewster, a Republican, is facing Republican Carl Lawrence and independent candidate Kathryn Trackey for two open seats.
In Malta, Democrat Cynthia Young, Republican Margaret Ruisi and Republican John Hartzell are in a three-way race for two open seats.
In Moreau, Democrat Brigid Martin is taking on incumbents Theodore Kusnierz and Robert Prendergast, both Republicans, in a three-person race for two available seats.
In Saratoga, incumbent Republican Michael McLoughlin is facing Republican James Jennings and Conservative Party candidate Michael Booth for two open seats.
And in Stillwater, Democrat Judy Wood-Shaw is facing Republican incumbents Arthur Baker and Kenneth Petronis in a race for two open seats on the Town Board.
In Saratoga Springs, Democrat Ron Kim is making a bid for mayor against Republican Scott Johnson, abandoning his post as public safety commissioner in the process.
Republican Richard Wirth and Democrat Kevin Connolly are now competing for that commissioner seat.
Democrat Peter Martin is also challenging Saratoga Springs Republican Finance Commissioner Ken Ivins.
Accounts Commissioner John Franck, a Democrat, is running unopposed.
Posted in Local, Election_2009 on Monday, November 2, 2009 5:50 pm Updated: 11:47 am. | Tags: Election
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