JOHNSTOWN?- The major political parties will have a number of primary elections Tuesday in Fulton County, with nominations for mayoral candidates in the Glove Cities and other key positions on the line.
Most of the primary elections will decide Republican tickets, with only a handful of races for Democratic nominations in the county.
Registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by roughly a 2-1 ratio in Fulton County.
Edmund Jasewicz, Fulton County Democratic Committee Chairman, said Fulton County has long been Republican-dominated, but there may be signs of the GOP grip loosening.
“We’re starting to get more and more people interested [in the Democratic Party],” Jasewicz said.
He said the notion that all Democrats are liberals is starting to fade away, bringing more moderate and conservative voters and candidates to the party.
The issues at stake in this year’s elections are the usual ones, he said: jobs, taxes and consolidation of governmental services.
“We can’t afford to keep the way we have been going,” Jasewicz said.
Fulton County Republican Committee Chairwoman Sue McNeil couldn’t be reached for comment.
In Gloversville’s mayoral race, incumbent Dayton King, Michael Ponticello and James Handy all are competing for the Republican nomination. King and Handy also are competing for the Conservative line.
In the November general election, King and Handy will appear on the ballot on independent lines, no matter the outcome of the primary. Ponticello did not file to run as an independent.
In the city of Johnstown’s mayoral race, Scott Jeffers, Helen Martin and Larry Razzano are running for the Republican nomination. The winner will face Democrat Michael Julius in the general election in November. Incumbent Mayor Sarah Slingerland is not seeking a third term.
In Broadalbin’s town supervisor race, incumbent Joseph DiGiacomo and Thomas Christopher are vying for the Republican nomination. Christopher also is running on the Patriot Party line.
In the race for Town Council, Drew C. Thompson, Tina Winney, Larry Ruzycky and Kimberly A. Verrego are vying for the Republican nomination. Ruzcyky also will appear on the Patriot Party line.
In Perth, David D. Dopp and Stanley A. Korona are running for the Democratic nomination for the town highway superintendent position. Both also will appear on independent lines in the general election.
In the town of Johnstown, Walter Lane, James Westover and Clarinda Bellen are all seeking the Republican nomination for town council.
John Zawadski, Tamara Healy and Lane also will appear on independent lines, and Zawadski will run as a Democrat as well.
In Mayfield, Steven VanAllen, Jack Putman and Vince Coletti are running for the Republican nomination for town council.
In Caroga, Tara Kaczor, Anthony Sturchio, Anthony Russitano and John Glenn are running for the Republican nomination for town council.
Greta Frasier is running as an independent candidate for town clerk. She will face incumbent Linda Gilbert in the general election.
In Northampton, incumbent Linda Kemper and James Groff are running for the Republican and Conservative nominations for the town supervisor position. Groff, the longtime Northville mayor, and Kemper both are running on independent lines as well.
Art Simmons, Darryl Roosa and Guy Poulin are seeking the Republican nomination for Northampton town council.
In Oppenheim, George E. Capek and Walter H. Rumrill are seeking the Republican nomination for town supervisor. Rumrill is running as an independent as well.
Richard Crum Jr. and Leo Miller are also seeking the republican nomination for the highway superintendent position. They also will run on independent in November.
