Election roundup for Saugerties

Election day in Saugerties is approaching (if you haven’t already cast a ballot in the state’s first ever early voting period) and there are some races that have the local populace on it toes. 

When the polls open at 6 a.m. Tuesday, November 5, the premier contest will be the race for supervisor between incumbent Fred Costello Jr. and councilman Paul Andreassen. 

But other competitive races fill the ballot. We’ve profiled the town board contest that has three candidates for the two available seats. Incumbent Leeanne Thornton pairs with first time candidate Nicole Roskos on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines. But Thornton and Republican Conservative candidate Mike Ivino shares the Independence Party line with Thornton. Roskos holds the Green Party line, while Ivino is on the Libertarian party ticket. 

For County Legislature in District 1, incumbent Mary Wawro seeks reelection on the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines and first time challenger Aaron Levine has the nods from the Democratic, Green and Working Families parties. 

District two has a hotly contested three-way race for its lone seat, left vacant when incumbent Joe Maloney decided not to run again. Democrat John Schoonmaker, a current town council member, and Republican-Conservative Al Bruno face a challenge from former legislator Chris Allen, who will run on the Working Families and on his Independence-Non Partisan tickets. 

In District 3, which includes a part of the town of Ulster, incumbent Republican-Conservative Dean Fabiano, who is also on the Independence line, is unchallenged. 

Elsewhere, Saugerties citizens will vote for County Executive (see page 5) in the rematch of current office holder, Democrat Pat Ryan and challenger Republican-Conservative Jack Hayes. Ryan is also on the Working Families and Independence lines. 

Also profiled in previous weeks is the closely contested race for Ulster County District Attorney, featuring chief assistant DA Mike Kavanagh, on the Republican, Conservative and Independence line against attorney David Clegg, Democratic, Libertarian and Working Families candidate. 

The race for County Comptroller features Democrat March Gallagher (also on the Working Families line) against Republican-Conservative-Independence candidate Lisa Cutten. 

The election for County Court Judge features Democrat, Working Families and Independence party candidate Bryan Rounds in an uncontested race. 

Finally, four candidates appear on the ballot for three seats on the State Supreme Court, 3rd Judicial district. John C. Egan Jr., Michael C. Lynch and Justin Corcoran appear on the Democratic line. Egan, Lynch and Linda Blom Johnson appear on the Republican line. All appear on various other lines. 

Early voting continues through Sunday, Nov. 2

There are still opportunities to vote early in Ulster County. 

Seven early voting sites around the county will be open Thursday, October 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, November 1, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, November 2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, November 3, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Places to vote early are Woodstock’s Mescal Hornbeck Community Center at 56 Rock City Road; Russell Brott Senior Center, 1 Town Hall Drive in the Ulster hamlet of Lake Katrine; the SUNY Ulster Kingston campus at 94 Mary’s Avenue; the Accord firehouse in Rochester; the Ellenville library in Ellenville; Redeemer Lutheran Church at 90 Route 32 South in New Paltz (close to the SUNY campus); and the Highland American Legion Hall, 84 Grand Street. 

Ballots will be printed on the spot on demand, so that you can cast, for instance, a Saugerties ballot or a Woodstock ballot at any of the polling sites. 

When you get to the early-voting center, you will check in to vote, receive your ballot and vote as in any other election. There will be instructions available at the early voting centers to familiarize you with the ballot. You may ask for an election inspector to explain how to vote, or if you need any assistance. Remember that if you vote during the early voting period you are not eligible to vote on Election Day, November 5.

Where to vote in Saugerties

Polls are open from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday, November 5 for the general election. All registered may vote.

Here is a map of the town’s voting districts. If you are unsure as to the district in which you live, call the Saugerties town clerk’s office, 845-246-2809, or the Ulster County Board of elections, 845-334-5470.

DISTRICTS 5, 9, 15, 16 — Grant D. Morse Elementary, 70 Harry Wells Rd.

DISTRICT 6 — Cedar Grove Firehouse, Rt. 32N

DISTRICT 7 — Malden Firehouse, 139 Malden Tpke.

DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3, 4, 14 — Senior Center, 207 Market St. 

DISTRICT 10 — Plattekill Reformed Church, 622 Kings Highway (Note: This polling site has permanently changed from Mount Marion Firehouse)

DISTRICTS 8, 11, 12, 13 — Glasco Firehouse, 138 Liberty St.