General Election taking place on Tuesday

The General Election is taking place on Tuesday in Tioga County, with several contests taking place. Polls will be open that day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., with unofficial results typically arriving before midnight on Election Day. The Owego Pennysaver will be watching the contested races, and posting the results at www.owegopennysaver.com.

Included in the General Election are three propositions that will also be on the ballot. They include a proposal allowing voters to decide whether there should be a convention to revise the Constitution and amend the same.

Also on the ballot is a proposal to amend section 7 of Article 5 of the State Constitution. This would allow a court to reduce or revoke the public pension of a public officer who is convicted of a felony that has a direct and actual relationship to the performance of the public officer’s existing duties. Voters will decide on whether or not this proposed amendment should be approved. You can read more about this proposition by clicking here. 

Proposal number three on the ballot would authorize the use of forest preserve land for specified purposes. According to the proposal, the amendment would create a land account with up to 250-acres of forest preserve land eligible for use by towns, villages, and counties that have no viable alternative to using forest preserve land to address specific public health and safety concerns. The proposed amendment would also allow bicycle trails and certain public utility lines to be located within the width of specified highways that cross the forest preserve while minimizing removal of trees and vegetation.

As for the seats up for grabs in the General Election, there are many uncontested races taking place in the county, and a few contested races to include Town of Owego Supervisor, Superintendent of Highways in Owego, and a contested race for Superintendent of Highways in the Town of Berkshire, among others.

In the Town of Barton, Leon Cary (R) and Johann Krupa (I) will run for Town Supervisor. For Town of Barton Justice, Joseph Fravel (R) will be challenged by Michael Myers (C) to retain his seat. 

In the Town of Berkshire, the only contested race is for Town of Berkshire Superintendent of Highways. Goerge Hoffmier, Jr. (R, Save Money) and Karl Spoonhower (Peoples Party) will be vying for the appointment to this public position.  

There are no contested races in Candor, Newark Valley or Tioga; but there is, however, several write-in campaigns anticipated in Candor.

In Owego, Democratic candidate Cecelia Menhennett is challenging Donald Castellucci (R,C), incumbent.

Also running in Owego is incumbent Mark Clark (R), who is being challenged by Thomas Kinney, Jr. (Crossroads Party)

For Town Council in Owego, Rich Purtell (Libertarian Party), Craig Jochum (R) and Dean Morgan (R,C) will vie for the two available seats. 

In the Town of Richford, Michael Hunt (Better Roads Party,R), Harrison Marsh (Improve Roads Party), and Joseph Gorsline (Back Road Party) are running to be seated as Superintendent of Highways.

Also in Richford, William E. Stell, Sr. (D), and Stephen Kotula (R) and Kenneth Miller (R) will be running to fill two council seats.

In the Town of Spencer, Donna Burgh (Inalienable Rights Party) will be running against Terri MacCheyne (R) for the position of Town Clerk.

To find out more about Tuesday’s election and view sample ballots, visit https://tiogacountyny.com/departments/board-of-elections/.