By Tom Grace
Cooperstown News Bureau
July 12, 2008 04:00 am Three Republican contenders have filed nominating petitions seeking to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Hudson, for the 20th Congressional District seat. Gillibrand, who serves on the House Armed Services and Agriculture committees, was elected in 2006, defeating incumbent Rep. John Sweeney, a Republican. According to the state Board of Elections' website, former state secretary of state and state GOP chairman Sandy Treadwell of Lake Placid filed petitions to run on the Republican, Independence and Conservative party lines. If all petitions stand, Treadwell, cousin to Jane Forbes Clark of Cooperstown, will face retired Army Lt. Col. Michael Rocque of Whitehall for the Republican and Conservative nominations, as well as retired state trooper and real-estate broker John Wallace of Chatham for the Republican line. In what might be a preview of the general election, Treadwell will face Gillibrand for the Independence Party nomination, as the incumbent filed papers to run on the Democratic, Working Families and Independence Party lines. The 20th Congressional District is home to 193,328 Republicans, 115,563 Democrats and 112,889 independents, according to the state Board of Elections. Also filing this week was Republican Richard Hanna of Otsego, seeking the Republican, Independence and Conservative parties' nods in the 24th Congressional District. Hanna, a contractor whose business is situated in Barneveld, is trying to unseat Democrat Michael Arcuri of Utica, former Oneida County district attorney. Arcuri, a member of the House Rules and Transportation and Infrastructure committees, filed petitions to run on the Democratic and Working Families lines. The incumbent, who succeeded Republican Sherwood Boehlert of New Hartford, is completing his first term. The 24th Congressional District is home to 161,117 Republicans, 126,294 Democrats and 75,747 independents, At the state level, Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, and his Democratic rival, Donald Barber of Caroline, filed petitions in the 51st District. In what has become a pattern in the state, Seward will be on the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines while Barber will represent the Democratic and Working Families parties. Democrat Bill Magee of Nelson, who represents much of Otsego County in the 111th Assembly District, will have no opponent. Incumbent Republican Marc Butler of Newport is being challenged by Democrat Daniel R. Carter in the 117th Assembly District. Carter is seeking the Democratic nod; Butler has filed to run on the Republican, Independence and Conservative parties' lines. That district includes several Otsego County towns. In Otsego County, several people also filed petitions to run for local office. These include: ä Dennis Lockwood, a Republican, four-year term as justice in the town of Plainfield. ä Frederick Hadden, a Republican, four-year term as justice in the town of Roseboom. ä Michael Stannard, a Republican, one-year unexpired term as supervisor in the town of Roseboom. ä James Mravlja, a Democrat, one-year unexpired term as council member in the town of Worcester. ä George Decker, a Republican, one-year unexpired term as council member in the town of Laurens. ä John E. Lull, a Republican, one-year unexpired term as highway superintendent in the town of Morris. ä Michael W. Scanlon, a Republican, four-year term as justice in the town of Morris. ä William Mirabito, a Republican, on the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties' lines for a one-year unexpired term as town council member in Oneonta. In neighboring Delaware County, there are only two local races in the November election. In the Davenport town justice race, Democratic incumbent Britt T. Kelch is being challenged by Republican Edith M. Halstead. There are also two candidates seeking a one-year vacancy on the Tompkins Town Council. Republican Carl Stuendel is running against Democrat Amy Glerum. In unopposed town races, the following candidates filed: ä John Herrorn, Republican, Davenport assessor, one-year vacancy. ä Susan M. Fairbairn, Republican, Franklin council, one-year vacancy. ä Daniel Pratt, Democrat, Hamden town justice, four-year term. ä Charles S. Smith, Republican, Masonville highway superintendent, one-year vacancy. ä Lori A. Swift, Democrat, Meredith tax collector, three-year vacancy. ä Heather Goekel, Republican, Roxbury town justice, four-year term. ä Jackie Lamport, Republican, Stamford town justice, four-year term. ___ Delhi News Bureau reporter Patricia Breakey contributed to this story.
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