POTSDAM — Democrat Marty Miller fended off two write-in candidates Tuesday to win election as town supervisor on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Democrats and political newcomers Dave Sanford and Christine Paige won seats on the town council, beating out write-in candidate Colbie Mason.

Republican Town Clerk Cindy Goliber, and Democrat Highway Supervisor John Keleher, both incumbents who faced no challenger, won reelection.

Of a total 1,2333 votes cast for supervisor, 918 were for Miller. No Republican for the post was on the ballot, but Peggy Brusso and Larissa Fawkner both ran write-in campaigns this fall.

St. Lawrence County Board of Election officials do not announce the names of write-in candidates on the night of elections, because they require manual counts. However, the total of all write-in candidates was 315.

Sanford received 1,047 votes for town council, while Paige garnered 977. Total number of write-in votes was 82, and could include other names besides Mason.

The exact number of votes received by each write-in candidate will be announced later this month. The results are unofficial and do not include absentee ballots.

Miller has served on the town council for four years, most recently as deputy supervisor. He will replace Democrat Ann Carville, who was first elected to the position in 2018.

Miller brings experience to the table with a long career with the St. Lawrence County highway department. He is currently employed as the Massena village department of public works superintendent.

During the campaign, he said his top issue as supervisor would be seeking state funding to make the Route 56 Water and Sewer District affordable for property owners in the district. He also pledged to craft a 10-year plan that would “outline the town’s comprehensive plan and incorporate projects that need to be updated to fall in line with the Town's goals for the future.”

Brusso, currently the justice court clerk for the town, had previously worked as clerk to the town supervisor for the past four supervisors. She pledged to be a fair and equal supervisor if elected.“For several years the Town Office has been plagued with favoritism and nepotism. People have only been rewarded for their loyalty to management, and not for their work ethic or accomplishments,” Brusso said in announcing her candidacy.

Fawkner has been a community organizer, teacher, museum coordinator, corporate relations staffer. She and her husband moved to Potsdam from California during the pandemic. “I believe that Town Hall needs a fresh perspective and a community-centric approach,” she said during the campaign.

Sanford is a local fire department member with a background in civil engineering and construction. Paige is a Norwood resident who organized the Norfolk Concert Series. Mason serves on the Children’s Development Group board.

Sanford and Paige will be filling the town council seats previously held by Miller and Toni Kennedy, who chose not to seek reelection.