Revised 2:15 p.m. Nov. 9 to correct name of outgoing Massena justice
Voters in Ogdensburg have picked Republican Wayne Ashley to succeed longtime mayor Bill Nelson by a nearly two-to-one margin over his competitor. Meanwhile in Massena, voters picked two Democrats to fill two town council vacancies.
Ashley received 1,233 votes to Democrat Vernon "Sam" Burns's 741.
Burns is running on the Democrat and Working Party lines in the Nov. 3 elections. He has served as Ogdensburg’s representative to the St Lawrence County legislature and also worked for 10 years at the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority where he says he helped establish city’s port as a Foreign Trade Zone.
City Councilman Ashley is running on the Conservative, Republican and Independent party lines. He is a retired police officer who previously told NorthCountryNow he has the time, dedication and integrity needed, move the city forward.
Both candidates have political experience and both have deep roots in the city.
In a five-way race for three city council seats, Republican David Price has a 10-vote lead over Democrat incumbent Jennifer Stevenson. Their totals are 1,188 and 1,178. Democrat Tim Davis trails with 1,052 votes, Republican James Amo with 988 and Democrat James McCoy with 594.
Two of the seats are currently held by William Hosmer, who did not seek re-election, and Ashley.
In Massena, incumbent Thomas Miller and newcomer Steven O'Shaughnessy got 801 and 776 votes for two town council posts. Republican Raymond Fenton, a newcomer, garnered 558.
Miller was appointed to the board in 2013, and elected that year.
O'Shaughnessy takes longtime Massena Democrat lawmaker John Macaulay's seat. He opted to not seek a fresh term.
This means the town councilors will remain as four Democrats.
In uncontested Massena races, Democrat Pat Serguson got the nod for town justice, getting 953 votes to seven write-ins. he takes acting Justice James Crandall's seat. Serguson is a retired village police officer. He also serves on the school board, which he will have to give up to take the justice's office.
Deputy Town Clerk Pamela Catanzarite, a Republican, was picked in an unopposed race to succeed her boss, Town Clerk Georgette Davis. She is retiring after several terms in office.
The results listed are unofficial and do not include absentee ballots.
