OC PRIMARY CONTESTS INCLUDE LOTS OF LIKELY CHANGES IN LOCAL LEADERSHIP

Cheers to those who went out and voted in their local primary elections! When a town the size of Monroe has a voter turnout of 31-26, something is seriously amiss. Other contests were not as dismal, but still.... in municipalities with thousands of residents it is shocking to see so many vote totals in the 200-400 range. Apparently just when some of the most critical governmental questions of our day are on the table, the majority of people are "saturated" with politics. or perhaps don't think local politics matter.

The final tally is expected to be announced on Tuesday, July 1. Some leadership positions are not shown because candidates are either running unopposed or not on the current term cycle.

Here are the unofficial results as of 3:45 am Wednesday, pending recount of early votes, and mail-in votes, which have the potential to change 2 or 3 of the outcomes.

Of particular note, longtime democratic legislator and caucus leader Michael Paduch of Middletown District 9 may have lost to Shauna Best who currently has a pretty safe majority of 244 to 126 votes..

In the Town of Chester Councilmembers Giusippi Cassara and Christine Maurer won 2 of the republican Council seats with 340 and 294 votes respectively, with incumbent Robert Courtenay likely to lose his current seat with only 185 votes.

In Goshen, republicans George Lyons and Melissa Gallo have won their contests for Council Seats.

In Monroe's contest for Town Supervisor- on the Conservative Line, Anthony Cardone III, with 31 votes, leads Tim Mitts with 26. And on the Monroe Democrat line Maureen Richardson leads David Rabbitts with Richardson getting 450 votes to Rabbitts' 304

Village of Woodbury Mayor, Brandon Calore has won the republican line against Andrew Giocomazza with 322 to Giocomazza's 225 votes

In Legislative District 11 - democrat DeShanda Carter leads Eric Valentin by 343 to 251.

In the Town of Chester, P.J. Gorman has won the republican Town Clerk position in her contest against longtime Town Clerk Linda Zappala

In Goshen's Legislative District 2, republican Aaron F. Ubides has a very small lead over Amir H. Sadaghianao at 348 to 344 ... much too close to call.

In Wallkill Town Council's Ward 2, democrat Don Silco has won over Stephen Valentin with 170 votes to Valentin's 92

In Monroe Town Council, democrat Beth Stephens leads Juan L. Rivera with 417 votes to his415

In Newburgh, Gisella Martinez garnered 217 uncontested democrat votes in Ward 1 while in Newburgh's Legislative District 6, democrate Gabrielle Hill has a significant lead over Kevindaryan Lujan, with her 441 votes to his 230.