Voters will elect trustees to three village boards when polls open from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday in village halls at Wilson, Middleport and Barker.
Wilson has the only contested race of the day. James Madan, backed by the Republican and Democratic parties, takes on Gary Darnell, the Conservatives’ choice, for a four-year term. Both men are registered Republicans.
Madan was appointed by Mayor Bernard Leiker last year to fill the remaining year of Leiker’s trustee term. This is the first run for office for the 41-year-old independent equities and options trader.
This is also Darnell’s first time tossing his hat into the political ring. The 52-year-old is a 34-year member of the New York Army National Guard and has served the Wilson No. 1 Volunteer Fire Company for three decades.
In Barker, newcomers Janice M. Rider, representing the Transparency in Government Party, and Kimberly A. Ruffini, running on the Lily Party line, seek two-year terms as trustees. The two seats became available when Trustee Patricia Fuller announced she would not seek re-election, and Scott Matheis resigned from his trustee position due to a conflict of interest when he became the new fire chief. Rider was appointed to fill the remaining seven weeks of Matheis’ term.
Rider, 48, works for the Niagara County Social Services Department.
A Florida native, Ruffini, 43, is a waitress who said her family moved to the area to be closer to family and specifically chose Barker for its school system for her children.
And in Middleport, incumbents Thomas Conley and Dennis McAvoy are seeking another two-year term on the board.
Conley, 48, is an employee of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He has served on the board since 2000 and represents the People’s Choice Party.
McAvoy, 67, retired from the village’s wastewater treatment plant in 2001 and serves as Niagara County’s deputy coordinator for fire investigations. He joined the board when Mayor Richard Westcott appointed him to fill the remainder of Westcott’s trustee term when Westcott became mayor in March 2011. McAvoy then successfully ran for a full two-year term in 2012. He represents the Positive Action Party.
The Village of Youngstown holds its elections in May, and Lewiston residents go to the polls in June.
Wilson has the only contested race of the day. James Madan, backed by the Republican and Democratic parties, takes on Gary Darnell, the Conservatives’ choice, for a four-year term. Both men are registered Republicans.
Madan was appointed by Mayor Bernard Leiker last year to fill the remaining year of Leiker’s trustee term. This is the first run for office for the 41-year-old independent equities and options trader.
This is also Darnell’s first time tossing his hat into the political ring. The 52-year-old is a 34-year member of the New York Army National Guard and has served the Wilson No. 1 Volunteer Fire Company for three decades.
In Barker, newcomers Janice M. Rider, representing the Transparency in Government Party, and Kimberly A. Ruffini, running on the Lily Party line, seek two-year terms as trustees. The two seats became available when Trustee Patricia Fuller announced she would not seek re-election, and Scott Matheis resigned from his trustee position due to a conflict of interest when he became the new fire chief. Rider was appointed to fill the remaining seven weeks of Matheis’ term.
Rider, 48, works for the Niagara County Social Services Department.
A Florida native, Ruffini, 43, is a waitress who said her family moved to the area to be closer to family and specifically chose Barker for its school system for her children.
And in Middleport, incumbents Thomas Conley and Dennis McAvoy are seeking another two-year term on the board.
Conley, 48, is an employee of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He has served on the board since 2000 and represents the People’s Choice Party.
McAvoy, 67, retired from the village’s wastewater treatment plant in 2001 and serves as Niagara County’s deputy coordinator for fire investigations. He joined the board when Mayor Richard Westcott appointed him to fill the remainder of Westcott’s trustee term when Westcott became mayor in March 2011. McAvoy then successfully ran for a full two-year term in 2012. He represents the Positive Action Party.
The Village of Youngstown holds its elections in May, and Lewiston residents go to the polls in June.