The first official steps to getting onto the September and November ballots were taken as Bethlehem candidates submitted their signed petitions to the Albany County Board of Elections.
The big race in town is for supervisor, as incumbent Democrat Jack Cunningham is seeking his second full term of office against a challenge from Independence Party Councilman Sam Messina.
The challenge includes an apparent Independence Party primary after Cunningham got the nod over Messina for his own party line. Both men have expressed confidence that they will win and add an extra ballot line for the fall election.
Thursday, July 16, was the deadline for submitting designating petitions to the county, and the final determinations on the number and validity of signatures by the board was expected Monday, July 20.
Cunningham contends that his unanimous support from the Albany County Independence Party over the party’s own member reflects a solid record of his tenure in office and is a big vote of confidence that he is an effective and efficient public servant.
Albany County Democratic commissioner and Bethlehem Democratic Chairman Matthew Clyne said Cunningham turned in just over 500 Independence signatures and over 900 Democratic signatures on his petitions. Cunningham’s campaign reported that he easily eclipsed his 2007 Independence signatures that totaled around 350 and said it was a sign his support has grown.
His slate handed in double the amount of Democratic signatures required by state election law.
Touching upon a major theme of his campaign, Messina said Cunningham’s Independence nomination is just another example of insider politics and Bethlehem nees to end party governance.
The councilman handed in 299 Independence Party signatures to the board of elections, little more than half of Cunningham’s, but Messina said he felt good about gathering more than four times the necessary signatures with only a fraction of the support system and organization of the incumbent.
The town’s GOP candidate turned in about 590 signatures, according to Republican Chairwoman Melody Burns, who said she was happy with the result, considering the party did not start carrying petitions until June 23 because of a careful and lengthy selection process.
Messina also grabbed 16 of the 27 registered Working Families Party members in Bethlehem. Messina said that with five of the members having left the area, he actually received signatures from 16 of the 22 members left in town.
The supervisor candidates thanked their supporters and volunteers after the big campaign milestone.
I am truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of support we’ve seen from members of the Independence Party, Cunningham said in a prepared statement. `By signing our team’s petitions, voters are giving us a vote of confidence, and I will continue my efforts to advance the policies that have helped make Bethlehem a great place to work and raise a family.`
Messina was also gracious toward his supporters.
`I’m really proud of the people who have helped me through this process and to those who have both carried and signed my petitions,` he told The Spotlight. `I have been receiving tremendous support for my campaign from residents in a number of parties including the Republican, Conservative, Working Families and the Independence Party.`
As it stands now, Cunningham has filed for the Democratic and Independence Party lines and Messina for the Republican, Conservative, Independence and Working Families party lines. Winning the primary for Cunningham would either maintain his two ballot lines, or, if he loses, swing a four-ballot line to Messina’s bid to his one for supervisor.
Cunningham’s slate for townwide offices includes incumbent Democratic Councilman Kyle Kotary for Town Board, cross endorsed by the Independence Party; Bethlehem Independence Party chairman Mark Jordan for Town Board, cross endorsed by the Democratic, Conservative and Working Families parties; and Democrat Nanci Moquin, town planning and zoning administrative assistant, for town clerk, cross endorsed by the Independence and Conservative parties.
Incumbent Republican Gregg Sagendorph is running unopposed for highway superintendent. Sagendorph is being cross endorsed by the Conservative and Independence parties.
Messina’s slate includes former Empire Zone Program director Republican Fred (Fernando) Di Maggio for Town Board, cross endorsed by the Conservative Party; Republican committeeman John Flanagan for Town Board; businesswoman Republican Melanie Calzone for town clerk; and Sagendorph for highway superintendent.
Clyne said the Democratic slate will `definitely be running competitive races this fall.`
`We’re comfortable where we are politically, and we feel we have a qualified group in the race,` he said. `I don’t want to make any predictions because it can boomerang against you sometimes, but I would say we’re comfortable.`
Burns said this will be the year the GOP returns to Bethlehem Town Hall.
`Party favoritism was not a part of our candidate selection. Our candidates represent a few of our neighborhoods, not just the center of town,` she said. `I am pleased and honored to be supporting our team. Over the next few months they will be knocking on doors and sharing their vision for Bethlehem.“