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Republicans gain 5 seats to take control of St. Lawrence County Legislature, Democrats take only one from GOP

Posted 11/4/14

Updated at 11:47 p.m. Five Democrats have lost their seats to Republican challengers for seats in the St. Lawrence County Legislature, and that means the GOP will now hold a majority. Ogdensburg’s …

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Republicans gain 5 seats to take control of St. Lawrence County Legislature, Democrats take only one from GOP

Posted

Updated at 11:47 p.m.

Five Democrats have lost their seats to Republican challengers for seats in the St. Lawrence County Legislature, and that means the GOP will now hold a majority.

Ogdensburg’s Vernon “Sam” Burns, Gouverneur’s Don Peck, DeKalb’s Fred Morrill, Norwood’s Jason Clark and Potsdam’s Jim Bunstone have all been voted out of office.

The only bright spot for the Democrats is in Parishville where Democrat Rick Perkins has taken over a seat that had been held by a Republican.

The 15-seat legislature this year had a nine-to-six Democratic majority, now the Republicans will be the majority party, ten-to-five.

In Legislature District 1, which covers the western portion of the City of Ogdensburg, incumbent Democrat Vernon "Sam" Burns lost to Republican Donald Hooper, 699-662.

In District 5, Democrat incumbent Donald Peck lost to Republican challenger Travis Dann, 327-983. Both candidates reside in Gouverneur. Their district includes the towns of Gouverneur and DePeyster.

In District 6, Republican challenger Larry Denesha beat Democratic incumbent Fred Morrill 1,119-777. The district includes the towns of DeKalb, Russell, Fine and Clifton.

For the District 10 spot, Democrat incumbent Jim Bunstone has lost to Republican Joe Timmerman, 262-335. Both reside in Potsdam. The district includes the Village of Potsdam.

In District 12 incumbent Jason Clark, a Democrat, has lost to Republican John Burke, 756-827.  The district includes Norfolk, the northern portion of the Town of Potsdam and the Village of Norwood.

The Democrats have gained in District 7, however, where incumbent Republican Scott Sutherland did not seek a new term, Democrat Rick Perkins won with 1,176 votes, compared with 1,060 for Republican Jerry Moore. The district comprises the towns of Pierrepont, Parishville, Hopkinton, Clare, Colton, and Piercefield.

In Canton’s District 9, incumbent Democrat Stephen Putman successfully fought off a challenge from Republican Daniel Martin, 641-525. The district covers the Village of Canton and a slice of the western part of the Town of Canton.

In District 11, Republican Chad Colbert has retained a seat for the GOP, with 800 votes, compared to 623 for Democrat Ryan Warr. Republican incumbent Daniel Parker did not run. The district includes the southeast part of the Town of Potsdam, plus all of Stockholm.

Republican Joel LaPierre of Gouverneur  won the District 4 race against Democrat Michele McQueer of Hammond, 1,120-583. Republican incumbent Alex McKinnon did not run again. The district comprises the towns of Macomb, Rossie, Fowler, and Pitcairn, along with the towns and villages of Hammond and Edwards.

View complete election results at http://northcountrynow.com/2014-election-results-county-races All results are unofficial and do not include absentee ballots.

In District 2, Republican David Forsythe ran unopposed to replace incumbent Republican Mark Akins who did not seek re-election.

Joseph Lightfoot, the Republican representative for District 3, ran unopposed for a new term. He represents the Town of Oswegatchie, the Town and Village of Morristown and northwest portion of the Town of Canton, including the Village of Rensselaer Falls.

District 8 incumbent Kevin Acres, a Republican from Madrid, had no challenger. He represents Madrid, the western portion of the Town of Potsdam and the eastern and southern portion of the Town of Canton.

In District 13, which covers all of Massena except for the village, plus the Towns of Brasher and Lawrence, Democrat incumbent Tony Arquiett of Helena ran unopposed.

District 14 was also uncontested. Gregory Paquin of Massena, the Democrat incumbent, represents most of the Village of Massena. The district covers all of the village south of the Grasse River and most of the eastern part of the village north of the Grasse River, except the so-called "Homecroft" area.

For District 15, incumbent Democrat Jonathan Putney of Lisbon was unopposed. He represents the so-called "West Massena" portion of the village, plus the town of Louisville and the Town and Village of Waddington.