Republican Chair:

More Races Likely

For County Board

‘A Few Potential Candidates’ Will

Run As Independents, Casale Says

By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

COOPERSTOWN – More Republican candidates then initially thought will be challenging Democrats this fall, county Republican Chairman Vince Casale said after Thurday evening’s AllOTSEGO.com report on petitions filed.

While it appeared only two county board seats would be contested  this fall, the GOP chair said “a few potential candidates” will file independent petitions to challenge Democrats in the Nov. 5 election.

“We’re not done yet,” Casale said.

While those candidates’ names could not appear on the Republican ballot line, they presumably could be endorsed and supported by the GOP County Committee.

Because of the “accelerated petition date” caused by a change in state law, some candidates weren’t ready to announce, Casale said.  However, the date to begin filing independent petitions is April 16, a week from this coming Tuesday, and extends until early May.

As of 5 p.m. last Thursday, the deadline to file as either a Republican or Democrat, only two of the 14 county board seats looked like they would be contested:  Republican Rick Brockway vs. Democrat Caitlin Ogden in District 3, Otego-Laurens; and Wilson Wells, an independent, vs. Democratic newcomer Jill Basile in the City of Oneonta’s District 14.

It appeared that a newcomer, Democrat and SUNY Oneonta senior Clark Oliver, would run unchallenged in the City of Oneonta’s District 11.

Now, that’s unclear.

Before Casale’s announcement, here’s how the field was firming up:

Five Republican incumbents were running unopposed; five Democratic incumbents, and the one Conservative incumbent.

Unopposed Republicans incumbents were Ed Frazier, District 1, Unadilla; Peter Oberacker, District 6, Schenevus; David Bliss, District 7, Cooperstown/Town of Middlefield; Keith McCarty, District 9, East Springfield; Dan Wilber, District 10, Burlington,

Unopposed Democratic incumbents were Michele Farwell, District 2, Morris; Andrew Stammell, District 4, Town of Oneonta; Andrew Marietta, District 8, Cooperstown/Town of Otsego; Adrienne Martini, District 12, City of Oneonta, and Danny Lapin, District 13, City of Oneonta.

The sole Conservative, Meg Kennedy, Mount Vision, District, 5, who is allied with the Republicans, was also unopposed.

The Democrats planned to meet today at the Cooperstown Beverage Exchange to kick of the fall campaign.