This year’s primary is looking a bit quiet for Republican voters in Onondaga County as early voting gets underway. The only primaries on the ballot for republican voters this year are in Salina and Pompey.
Republican party committee chair Benedicte Doran sees the lack of primary races as a good sign.
“People are pretty happy with their government," Doran said. "The Republican Party and Republican candidates have been in office in the county from most of the town's except for a few for a long time. Then the city, the enrollment advantage is so upside down, but it's really tough to be successful as Republicans in the city.”
Doran acknowledges the same can be said for democrats trying to run for county-wide office or in most towns. As far as the primaries, Salina Town Supervisor Nick Paro is facing a challenge from Stella Penizotto. Paro successfully advocated to halt the relocation of migrants from New York City to hotels in Salina. Doran says the primary seems to be more of a personal beef.
“It's not about performance," Doran said. "Because there's it's indisputable that Nick Paro was doing a great job in Salina. He's been fighting for Republican values. So things like the migrants got a very good outcome.”
Meanwhile, voters in Pompey will choose a supervisor and two town councilors to move on to the general election.
“It’s more of an ideological battle with people that are maybe thinking that the people running are conservative enough," Doran said.
Meanwhile, on the conservative party line, Doran says the GOP is supporting Christine Varga for District Attorney. She’s not trying to unseat longtime republican incumbent Bill Fitzpatrick, but Doran says rather, Varga is trying to keep democrat Chuck Keller from claiming the conservative line on the ballot.
For a list of early voting locations and times visit onvote.net
