SMITH DEFEATS McCONVILLE

Sheriff Don Smith thanks his supporters with his number one fan, his wife, Jane, at his side. by Eric Gross

Sheriff Donald Smith easily won his third term as Putnam’s chief lawman Tuesday defeating Kevin McConville of Cold Spring by a wide margin.

Smith tallied 10,895 votes to Mc- Conville’s 6,012. James Borkowski of Southeast who withdrew from the race after losing a GOP primary to the sheriff but whose name appeared on the Working Families line received 1,284 votes.

At a rally at the Villa Barone in Mahopac early Wednesday, the sheriff thanked the people of Putnam County for their “support and prayers.”

He thanked residents of each of Putnam’s six towns and three villages for their backing: “I especially want to thank my friends in Cold Spring, Nelsonville and Philipstown—places where I didn’t do that well at the polls because it’s Kevin McConville’s country but I promise to win you folks over as well.”

Elections Commissioners Robert Bennett (left) and Anthony Scannapieco take out their frustration over a Verizon phone glitch at the Board of Elections office in Southeast. Smith told more than 250 supporters: “I want you all to know that I still have fire in my belly. I am committed to the future of our county. We cannot rest on our laurels and will continue to partner with our neighboring police departments as well as fire and EMS professionals in making Putnam the safest county in the Hudson Valley and one of the safest municipalities across the USA.”

Smith, a retired brigadier general, offered his wishes to his opponent. “I thank Kevin for his issue-oriented campaign.”

Contacted in Philipstown, McConville congratulated the sheriff on his victory, telling the COURIER: “I wish him all the best.”

ERIc GROSS Kent Supervisor Kathy Doherty was reelected on Tuesday without opposition. Sheriff Smith called on all officials to “place political differences aside. We can hold onto our beliefs and political philosophies and what we hold near and dear but we must keep Putnam County as the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”

In other county races, Dr. Michael Nesheiwat was reelected as Putnam Coroner running unopposed.

Three legislative races were decided. Legislators Vincent Tamagna of Cold Spring and Dan Birmingham of Brewster both ran without opposition.

Legislator Mary Conklin of Patterson defeated challenger Mark Armon by a tally of 1,162 to 806. Conklin, whose district incorporates Patterson and a section of Southeast, thanked the voters for their support: “I am again looking forward to serving all of the constituents of Putnam County, especially during these difficult economic times.”

ERIc GROSS Putnam Legislator Mary Conklin votes with her good luck charm— her 14-month old grandson Cooper Pesature Putnam residents also approved a measure that will allow the Legislature to make mid-year budget changes. Since the county charter form of government was created some three decades ago, only the county executive could modify a fiscal spending plan once the fiscal year began. That will now change following Tuesday’s vote of 8,976 in favor and 7,305 opposed.

In the Town of Carmel, Supervisor Kenneth Schmitt crushed his opponent David McKay Wilson by nearly a 2-1 margin. Schmitt received 3,718 votes to Wilson’s 1,964.

Schmitt was appreciative of the landslide: “I am both gratified and humbled by the outpouring of support. There was a tremendous amount of mudslinging from day one. The voters saw through my opponent’s tactics.”

ERIc GROSS Carmel Supervisor Ken Schmitt gives a thumbs-up after defeating his opponent. Schmitt promised to work “night and day” for the residents of the greater Carmel-Mahopac area: “I am looking to serving all of the residents of our town for the next two years and beyond.”

The Carmel Town Board will welcome two new faces on January 1.

Democrat Suzanne McDonough and Republican Frank Lombardi were victorious on Election Day. Lombardi tallied 3,482 votes while McDonough received 2,996. Greg Ellner came in third with 2,697 votes, while Mark Pekowsky finished fourth with a vote count of 1,709.

In Kent, Supervisor Kathy Doherty ran unopposed, as did Town Clerk Yolanda Cappelli. Doherty praised her town board for “keeping taxes in check. I am thankful for my constituents’ support and look forward to serving them for the next two years.”

Four people sought two Kent Justice seats: Incumbent Peter Collins was victorious with 2,052 votes along with newcomer Kevin Douchkoff who tallied 2,044.

Incumbent Judge Joseph Esposito received 838 votes and Maureen Fleming came in fourth with 626 ballots.

A scorecard was needed to sort out candidates seeking two Kent Town Board seats. Lou Tartaro was reelected with 1,238 votes, while John A. Greene won the second seat by receiving 1,115 ballots. Jeff Green tallied 998 votes; Incumbent Councilman Karl Rohde tallied 771 votes; Thomas Maxson received 704 votes; and Edward Durkee tallied 669.

Kent’s Receiver of Taxes Jean Johnson was reelected defeating Joyce Mitchell by a tally of 1,772 to 1,088.

Kent’s Highway Superintendent was a three-man race pitting the incumbent, Anthony Caravetta, against Cris Dellaripa and Paul Roncallo. Caravetta was victorious by receiving 1,458 votes to Dellaripa’s 874 and Roncallo’s 629.

Residents in Kent soundly defeated a proposition that called for increasing the supervisor’s term from two years to four. The vote was 2,180 opposed to 668 in favor.

Supervisor Doherty attributed the defeat to the fact that “in the past Kent has elected supervisors who failed to serve the town well. I am happy to serve whether for two years or four. The issue has been on the front burner for years. Now we know where the people stand.”

In Patterson, four candidates sought two seats on the Patterson Town Board. Incumbent Councilwoman Ginny Nacerino and newcomer Kevin Burns were elected, defeating Councilman Ernest Kassay and Patricia Ploeger. Nacerino received 1,164 votes; Burns tallied 1,091; Kassay came in third with 911 votes while Ploeger finished fourth with 813 ballots.

Patterson Justice John King was reelected without opposition while Receiver of Taxes Sally Parfitt defeated Nanci Kalbfell by a tally of 1,594 to 528.

Residents of Patterson also voted 1,082 to 972 to increase the town’s appropriation to the Patterson Library by $80,000.

In Philipstown, Councilman Richard Shea will become the town’s new supervisor on January 1, succeeding William Mazzuca who retired after 15 years in office.

Shea defeated Matthew Mastrantone by nearly a 3-1 margin—1,910 to 763.

John Van Tassel and Betty Budney were elected to the Philipstown Town Board defeating, Joselle Cunane, and Theresa Polhemus. Van Tassel was the top vote getter with 1,894 votes, followed by Budney’s 1,707. Polhemus received 1,030 votes while Cunane tallied 782.

Putnam Valley Supervisor Robert Tendy crushed his challenger Dawn Powell by better than a 3-1 margin. Tendy received 1,670 votes to Powell’s 562.

Five candidates sought two seats on the Putnam Valley Town Board— Wendy Whetsel and Jacqueline Annabi were victorious defeating Patty Villanova, Christopher Lieberman and Samuel Davis.

The incumbent Whetsel received 1,235 votes; Annabi received 1,045 followed by Villanova’s 940; Lieberman’s 929, and Davis’ 174.

Putnam Valley Justice Gina Capone sought reelection without opposition while Highway Superintendent Earl Smith defeated his challenger Mark Pawera by a 1,427 to 727 count.

In Southeast, three candidates sought two seats on the Town Board to replace Richard Honeck and Paul Johnson ,who decided to retire. Elizabeth Hudak and Robert Cullen were victorious defeating Joseph DePaola. Hudak tallied 2,288 votes while Cullen received 1,869 and DePaola received 558.

Southeast’s town justices Gregory Folchetti and Richard Vercollone were running without opposition while Southeast Highway Superintendent Kevin Palmer defeated Michael Bruen by a tally of 1,905 to 805.

In the Village of Brewster, Mayor James Schoenig, Village Justice Richard O’Rourke, and Trustees Christine Piccini and Teresa Stockburger all faced no opposition.

Election night tabulations turned into a nightmare for Elections Commissioners Robert Bennett and Anthony Scannapieco and their dedicated staffs when phone lines failed at the Board of Elections office in Southeast.

The problem resulted from a Verizon phone glitch and when the commissioners contacted the phone company’s repair department they were advised that repairs would not be made until the following morning.

The commissioners fumed and Deputy Commissioner Nancy Quis contacted Putnam’s Director of Emergency Management Thomas Lannon, who transferred five phone lines not being used at the Bureau of Emergency Services that allowed elections staff to call each polling place advising of a temporary new number where results could be phoned in.

“So much for Ma Bell,” said Scannapieco. Bennett said had it not been for the temporary resolution, “I hate to think when the final numbers would have been tabulated.”