BY JOSH DAVISNorth Country This Week

The upcoming election of St. Lawrence County legislators, town leadership  and a congressional representative will see multiple primaries. 

In St. Lawrence County District 5, Republican Troy Besaw will challenge incumbent Harry A. Smithers, II for a seat on the County Legislature. After the primary, Besaw or Smithers will face Democratic challenger Daniel Horton. 

Primary elections will also select the candidates in several town races.

In the town of Clare, two Republicans are vying for the position of town clerk. Incumbent Jessica Hance will face challenger Crystal Briggs. 

Three Republican candidates are seeking election as Highway Superintendent in the town of Fowler, including Jacob Matthew Cunningham, Ryan S. Gollinger, and Paul Brent Johnson, Jr.  

Republican voters in the town of Rossie will select a GOP candidate to run for town board in the upcoming primary. Ray Roberts and Kimberly A. Hutton are each looking to serve a two-year term on the board. 

The ballots could still see some changes in towns where parties caucus.

At the federal level, two primaries will decide the candidates to run for election to represent New York’s 21st Congressional District, with Democrats Blake Gendebien and Stuart Amoriell each vying for the nomination. 

Republican voters will choose between Anthony Constantino and Robert Smullen to represent the 21st Congressional District. 

New York’s Conservative Party has endorsed Smullen in the race. 

Christopher Schmidt has announced he is running, but as an independent he will begin circulating petitions April 14 and filed them by May 26.

Democratic candidate Dylan Hewitt of Glens Falls secured an endorsement from New York’s Working Families party before withdrawing from the race late in March.  He is likely to rescind the endorsement and has until April 10th to do so, according to elections officials.

County legislator

In District 3, Republican incumbent Joseph Lightfoot will face Democratic challenger Adam Jarrett.

In District 7, Republican incumbent Rick Perkins will face a challenger from Ginger Storey-Welch.

In District 8, Democrat Paula Sturge and Republican Allan Robinson are seeking election. and Independent candidate Bob Washo announced his run, but as an Independent candidate he still has time to file his petition.

In District 11, Democratic candidate Amber Spinner will face Republican incumbent Glenn Webster. 

Patrick Brady and Marty Blair are each seeking election to represent District 12. The district is currently represented by John Burke, who will not seek reelection. 

Democrat Setcher Krywanczyk will face Republican Terry Goodrich in the race to represent District 13. 

Incumbent Republican Rita Curran will face Democrat John Michno in District 15. 

Several candidates will not face challenges for their seats.

St. Lawrence County Legislature Chairman David Forsythe, a Republican, is running unopposed for reelection in District 2. 

In District 1, Republican James E. Reagan is unopposed as is District 4 Legislator William Sheridan,  District 6 Legislator Larry Denesha, District 9 Legislator Anthony Levato and District 10 Legislator Margaret Haggard. 

In District 14, Adrian Taraska of Massena is also running unopposed for his first term on the board. The seat is currently held by Nicole Terminelli.

Independent candidates could still file petitions, meaning unopposed candidates could still end up with contested races.