11/07/07 - Incumbents win contested council seats

(As published by Cortland Standard, Evan Geibel Reporting)

Incumbent city Common Council members with their names on the ballot held on to their seats after Tuesday’s election, according to unofficial results.

The results of write-in campaigns by two incumbent Democrats who lost their primary contests in the 2nd and 4th wards will not be known until the end of the week.

In the 2nd Ward, Democrat Clay Benedict received 248 votes. Incumbent Democrat Shannon Terwilliger waged an aggressive write-in campaign.

Running unopposed, Democrat Ken Dye took the 3rd Ward with 176 votes — incumbent Democratic Alderwoman Amy Cobb did not run for re-election.

Democrat Brian Tobin received 102 votes in the 4th Ward, facing off against incumbent Nick DeCarlo, a fellow Democrat who also pursued a write-in campaign after losing the September primary.

Incumbents in the 5th, 6th and 8th wards were returned to office.

Republican Dan Quail held on to his 5th Ward seat with 69 percent of the vote, receiving 226 votes while his challenger, Terrence Benn Mays, received 101 votes. Next year Quail will begin his fourth two-year term.

“You’re never going to win over every voter, but it certainly is rewarding to see the vote come out the way it did,” Quail said after the unofficial results were reported at county Republican Party headquarters on Port Watson Street.

Sixth Ward Democrat Susan Feiszli took home 251 votes — about 69 percent of the vote — beating Republican challenger Alan Jones, who received 113 votes.

Republican Tom Michales retained his 8th Ward seat with 220 votes, or about 62 percent of the total. Democratic challenger Shawn Smith received 134 votes. Michales will serve a third term as alderman.

“I’ve always worked hard for my constituents and this is the time that they come out and support me,” Michales said, accepting congratulations at Republican headquarters.

In unopposed elections for incumbents, Mayor Tom Gallagher won a third term with 2,050 votes; Alderwoman Val VanGorder (R-1st Ward) won a second term with 182 votes; and Alderman Jim Partigianoni (D-7th Ward) won a fourth term with 156 votes.