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WJTN News Headlines

It was a night of mixed results for Republicans and Democrats on the local scene... and, across Chautauqua County on Election Day yesterday.  In the city of Jamestown... Mayor Sam Teresi was overwhelmingly re-elected with his opponent running a strictly write-in campaign.  Teresi wound up with 1,983 votes... while David George Tharaeperambil received 132 write-ins.  The Democrat was pleased with the results -- especially the fact they won a sixth City Council seat. James is a retired city Youth Services Director.  She defeated Alfonso Pagan 136-to-97.  In other Council races... First Ward Republican Brent Sheldon won re-election... as did fellow Republican Tony Dolce in Ward-Two.  Dolce complimented his Democrat opponent, Joe Scapilitte (Scap-ah-letty)... adding he took "nothing for granted."  In the Fourth-Ward... incumbant Democrat Marie Carubba defeated Republican Rick Elardo, 426-to-234.  Maria Jones and Tom Nelson ended up running unopposed in Wards 5 and 6, respectively.  Democratic Council President Greg Rabb, George Spitale... and, Kim Ecklund ran unopposed for the At-Large Council seats.

 

It was also a good night for Republicans in city of Jamestown... and, County-wide.  The GOP gained a couple of additional seats on the county legislature.  They held onto two seats in Jamestown in a pair of contested races that were re-matches of two years ago.  In District 11... Republican Dave Wilfong edged out Robert Whitney, Junior, 347-to-305.  In District 12 in Jamestown... Republican Elisabeth Ranklin won the other re-match over Democrat Beth Kresge, 430-to-399.  Vote totals are unofficial... and, do not include absentees.  In District 17... GOP Legislature Chairman Jay Gould won big over Independence candidate, John Suroviec, 891-to-76.  In the Cassadaga area... Republican Mark O'Dell won the District 7 race over Democrat David Wilkinson, 653-to-289.  In Dunkirk... Republican Kevin Muldowney beat Democrat William Rivera, 693-to-385.  In District 2... incumbant Republican Shaun Heenan was beat by Democrat challenger Robert Bankowski, 679-to-365.  In District 3... incumbant Republican Robert Scudder won big over Democrat Wayne Dorler.  And... in District 5 Sheridan Republican Terry Neibel won big over Democrat Martin Anderson.

 

The village of Lakewood produced one biggest upsets of Election Day.  Independent candidate Cara Birritierri  holds a 20-vote lead on incumbant Republican David Wordelmann after Election Night.  Birritierri, who was endorsed by Democrats, received 418 votes to Wordelmann's 398.  However... absentees have yet to be counted. 
Also in Lakewood... former Busti Town Assessor Randy Holcomb, a Republican, won one of the two village board seats up for a vote... while fellow Republican, Ellen Barnes, was second.

 

In the town of Busti... Republican Supervisor Jesse Robbins held off a challenge by Democrat Lee Fischer.  Robbins received 906 votes to Fischer's 598 tallies.  Incumbant Republican Town Board member James Andrews... and, former County Legislator, Democrat Rudy Mueller, were elected to the town board.
In the Town Justice race... Republican William Geary won over Democrat Gary Segrue (See-grew).


 
In the town of Ellicott... Republican Pat McLaughlin ran unopposed for Town Supervisor... while former Supervisor Pat Tyler defeated Thomas Campbell for the first-Ward Council seat.  Tyler will be the only Democrat on the town board come January 1st.

 

New York voters have elected five new state lawmakers -- three of whom will replace politicians convicted of corruption.  In a Southern Tier Senate race... Broome County Undersheriff Fred Akshar, a Republican, beat Democrat Barbara Fiala, a former motor vehicles commissioner.  Akshar replaces Republican Thomas Libous, who was convicted of lying to the FBI.  In Brooklyn... Democratic Assemblywoman Roxanne Persaud defeated Republican Jeffrey Ferretti to win the Senate seat formerly held by Democrat John Sampson, also convicted of lying to the FBI.  Democrat Alicia Hyndman beat Republican Scherie Murray in a Queens Assembly district formerly represented by Democrat William Scarborough... who was convicted of pocketing campaign money and filing false expense claims.  In other Assembly races, Democrat Pamela Hunter won a Syracuse-area seat and Democrat Pamela Harris claimed a Brooklyn seat.

 

A 17 year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly speeding when his car crashed on Route 430 in the village of Mayville last weekend.  Sheriff's officers say the teen was traveling on Route 430 just after 8:30 PM Sunday when the accident occured.  Deputies say the car left the roadway and overturned.  Upon arrival... the 17 year-old was safely out of the vehicle.  After a brief investigation... it was found that the vehicle had left the roadway and the operator was unable to correct it back onto the road.  Officers say the vehicle traveled several feet... striking a utility pole and culvert before rolling over several times.  The teen was taken to Westfield Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.  He was later issued traffic tickets for speeding... and, moving from lane unsafely.

 

After being closed for more than four weeks after a building collapse at 123 Central Avenue in Dunkirk... Chautauqua County Rural Ministry Offices will soon be reopening.  CCRM's Executive Director Kathy Peterson got the word late Monday afternoon from the city building inspector.  Peterson says the inspector has removed the "no occupancy orders" for 127 to 135 Central Avenue.  The entire Coburn Block is not open.  A garage that is still standing at 123 Central... and, the building at 125 Central will remain closed until further notice.

 

New York state is spending 67-million dollars to help those caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease -- part of an ambitious effort to support families dealing with the degenerative condition.  Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the funding on Monday.  It will be divided among nine different organizations that will create programs to help family caregivers.  Each will receive 7.5-million dollars over five years.  The money will pay for support groups, consultations, outreach and respite services so family caregivers can get a break.  The Democratic governor included the money in the state budget.  He calls it an ``investment'' that will help those who bear the financial and emotional challenges of caring for people with Alzheimer's.  An estimated 380,000 New Yorkers have Alzheimer's or another form of dementia.