Several primary races appear to be on tap for voters to decide in September.
Syracuse Post-Standard By John Mariani Staff writer
Candidates of New York's five official political parties wrapped up their petition drives Thursday, filing documents to put them on the ballot for the November election - and possibly on primary ballots Sept. 13.
Syracuse mayoral designee Joanie Mahoney led a contingent of Republican candidates into the Onondaga County Board of Elections shortly after 11 a.m. to file petitions for candidates designated by the party.
"Everything's perfect," Mahoney assured Republican Election Commissioner Helen Kiggins as she turned in petitions for the GOP's city slate. Michele Pirro Bailey, candidate for Family Court, did the honors for Republicans seeking offices in the county.
Mahoney said she now will bring her platform, emphasizing public safety, school improvements and more aggressive economic development, to neighborhood groups and residents' doorsteps. Listening to voters' concerns will be a big part of her campaign, she said.
"We are a new breed of Republicans that have our feet on the ground and our ears to the community," GOP Common Council president candidate Ronald Otis Jennings said.
Thursday was the last day for candidates of the Democratic, Republican, Conservative, Independence and Working Families parties, New York's officially recognized parties, to file or mail in their petitions.
The Democrats, led by incumbent Mayor Matt Driscoll, filed petitions for the party's designated candidates on Tuesday.
Persons seeking independent ballot lines, including such groups as the Green and Veterans parties, began seeking signatures Tuesday. They have until Aug. 23 to file. Among these candidates is Howie Hawkins, the Green candidate for mayor.
Submitting a petition does not grant automatic access to the November ballot. Residents have three days from the date a petition is filed to lodge a general objection and six days after that to make specific objections. If enough of a candidate's signatures are thrown out through objections, the candidate can get knocked out of the running.
Candidates who seek the same party's line for the same post also must survive primaries on Sept. 13 to reach the Nov. 8 election.
Primaries appeared to be shaping up in several races, according to a partial list provided by the Board of Elections. They included: Ö Family Court. Incumbent Democrat David Klim and Republican challenger Bailey both filed Conservative and Independence petitions. Bailey has the backing of both parties. Ö Syracuse 2nd District councilor. Incumbent Martin Masterpole, the Democratic designee, faces a primary with Patrick Hogan. Hogan, a registered Democrat, also is running as a Republican. Ö 3rd District councilor. Designee Patricia Maxwell and fellow Democrat Homer Davis Jr. both filed petitions. Ö 4th District councilor. Khalid Bey expanded the Democratic primary field for this seat to three, joining designee Steven Coker and incumbent Thomas Seals. Ö Commissioner of education. Democrats Kim Rohadfox-Ceaser and incumbent Marisol Hernandez are challenging party designees Cynthia Kirby, Richard Strong and Dorothy Matthews. Kirby and Strong are incumbents. Ö 3rd District county legislator. William H. Meyer Jr., the Republican incumbent, and Thomas Beaulieu both seek the Conservative line. Ö 6th District legislator. Republican incumbent James Rhinehart faces a challenge from attorney Michael Plochocki. Ö Skaneateles supervisor. A three-way Republican primary looms among designee Ted Murdick, incumbent Bill Pavlus and Joseph Southern, town planning board vice chairman.