BUSTI - Todd Hanson, R-Busti, has been voted to his first elected position.
Hanson defeated Democrat Bill Burk for the Busti Town Council on Tuesday. Hanson, who was appointed to the Busti Town Board in April, received 65 percent of the vote, with 2,086 votes. Burk, who is a member of the Southwestern Central School District Board of Education, received 35 percent of the vote, with 1,131 votes.
Hanson said it was an interesting experience to run for an elected position.
Article Photos
Voters are pictured at a polling booth at the Ashville Fire Department in Stow.
P-J photo by Dennis Phillips
''It was good for the first time through. I didn't know what to expect,'' he said. ''I enjoyed talking to people about topics that concern them in the town.''
Hanson said he appreciates the support from town residents and is looking forward to doing the work necessary to reduce spending and finding ways to save money during his four-year term.
''The biggest challenge is obviously the budget,'' he said. ''We have to find ways to save money funding services.''
In the only other competitive local race, Patty S. Ekstrom, who ran on the Democratic Party line, defeated Harold W. Whitford Jr., who ran on the Republican and Conservative party lines, for Carroll Town Council. Ekstrom received 62 percent of the vote, with 921 votes. Whitford received 38 percent of the vote, with 567 votes.
UNCONTESTED LOCAL RACES
Celoron: Richard P. Kogut received 290 votes and Robin A. Young received 319 votes as they both ran unopposed on the Democratic and Republican party lines for two village trustee seats.
Charlotte: Mark LeBaron received 597 votes running unopposed on the Democratic, Republican and Conservative party lines for town highway superintendent.
Cherry Creek: Town Tax Collector was up for election, but no name appeared on the ballot. An eligible write-in candidate will win the position. According to the county Board of Elections website, 51 write-in votes were received, but they were not listed. Debra Gabel is the current Cherry Creek tax collector.
Town of Dunkirk: Robert N. Hubbard received 384 votes running unopposed on the Republican and Conservative party lines for town justice.
Harmony: William A. Lawson received 694 votes running unopposed on the Republican Party line for town supervisor. Peter J. Radka running unopposed received 701 votes on the Republican Party line for town council.
Mina: Sherrie Tanner received 436 votes running unopposed on the Republican and Conservative party lines for town clerk.
North Harmony: Howard E. Peacock received 889 votes running unopposed on the Republican Party line for town justice.
Pomfret: David L. Penharlow received 3,494 running unopposed on the Republican and Conservative party lines for town council.
Ripley: Levern Gibson received 646 votes running unopposed on the Democratic Party line for town justice. Andrew Knight running unopposed received 801 votes on the Democratic and Republican party lines for town council. The proposition on whether $28,160, an increase of $2,560, should be raised through property taxes for the Ripley Free Library Association for maintenance passed with 62 percent of the vote.