Milton pols pledge cooperation after contest
MILTON, N.Y. » Despite a sometimes heated and tense campaign, the next Milton supervisor and his opponent said Wednesday they will set aside their differences and work together.
Scott Ostrander, a longtime resident of Milton but a relative newcomer to town politics, prevailed over his opponent, Barbara Kerr, in Tuesday’s Republican primary, 716-499. With nobody on the Democratic ticket running for supervisor, this was the deciding vote for the job. Ostrander will replace outgoing Supervisor Dan Lewza in January 2018.
Both Kerr and Ostrander were surprised by the low voter turnout, but both are committed to moving forward and working together in a positive spirit and putting a sometimes-contentious campaign behind them.
“I ran a positive campaign,” said Ostrander, who said Kerr called to congratulate him after the polls had closed.
Kerr, who has been a member of the town board for six years, will remain in that position for the remaining two years of her term.
“I expected this race to be a challenge, but there’s always got to be a winner and a loser,” said Kerr, adding that she has never been a quitter and is committed to working with Ostrander and the rest of the town board to do what the public has asked them to do.
Some residents of the town reported receiving flyers in their mailboxes yesterday, telling people not to vote for Barbara Kerr because she was planning on raising taxes and eliminating popular services and events in the town and the village of Ballston Spa.
Kerr has been outspoken about issues with the budget, claiming that it is unnecessarily complicated. She also felt that there needed to be some trimming of the budget, but was not specific about how that might be accomplished.
It is a federal violation for someone to place flyers, leaflets of other materials in mailboxes.
Kerr did not have an opinion about who might have circulated the flyers, but she did say that they might have had a negative effect on some voters who might otherwise have voted for her.
When asked if he was aware of any flyers being circulated, Ostrander said he also had no idea who may have been behind it, noting that he and his group were proud of the clean and upfront campaign they ran. “I have no idea what my opponent’s plans may have been to raise taxes or cut services,” adding that sort of tactic was not his style.
Ostrander, who had the endorsement of the Republican, Independent and Conservative parties, said that he is ready to move forward together as a team.
“There are good people on the board and we all have a lot of work to do.”
Ostrander said that he expects his agenda come January to be full. Some of his immediate priorities include fixing the budget, instituting transparency with the board, and focusing on economic development. He also wants to develop a five-year strategic plan for the town, expand the town’s social media presence, hire a grant writer and further develop the town center.
Incumbent Frank Blaisdell and John Frolish secured their place to run against democrats in November for two Town Board seats, with votes of 791 and 725, respectively. James Frey, who ran unendorsed, received 503 votes.
In other Tuesday night primary results:
Saratoga Springs
Incumbent City Court Judge Francine Vero easily captured the Independence Party nomination, defeating Andrew Blumenberg 165 to 67.
Charlton
Joseph S. Grasso and Edmund W. Snyder Jr., won the Independence Party nod for two seatson the town board. Douglas M. Ranaletto finished third.
Corinth
Edward C. Byrnes and Calvin E. Butler won the Republican primary for two seats on the town board. Andrew P. Kelley finished third.
Providence
Sandra L. Winney easily won her bid for the Republican nomination for town supervisor, beating Elizabeth K. Vandenburgh 166 to 74.
Richard F. Cross and Audrey D. Lahoff won the GOP nod for two open town council races, beating back a challenge from Cheryl Lee.
Wilton
Eric D. Rosenberg won the Independence Party line for Wilton town justice, defeating Gerald A. Worth, 48 to 44.