Tenney Wins Big, Vescera Wins in Utica

September 14th 2012   ·   0 Comments

Utica, NY – Yesterday’s primary elections are over. In the race for the newly drawn 101st Assembly district, incumbent Claudia Tenney faced a challenge from Walden village Mayor, Brian Maher, for the GOP nomination. The race received attention due to the redistricting that was seen as a direct punishment for Tenney’s independence as an Assemblywoman. Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente even came out and endorsed Tenney’s opponent, Maher. Maher hails from Orange County, roughly 200+ miles south of Oneida County. However, when results came in, Tenney ran away with a nearly 2-1 victory, taking 65% of the vote.

Tenney remained humble in her comments after the results came in, refusing to declare victory until the numbers are certified, despite having a commanding lead. She focused on what she said was a positive and clean campaign by her team and thanked the voters for their support. Tenney won every county but Maher’s home county of Orange. The district includes Oneida, Herkimer, Ulster, Sullivan and Orange counties. Tenney will now face Herkimer Democrat Dan Carter in the November 6 general election. Carter is a former Herkimer County Legislator and chairman of the Herkimer County Democratic Party.

In Utica, there were several races for Democratic committee seats up for grabs. Councilman Frank Vescera, D-1, was leading a group of challengers to incumbent committee members. Vescera’s team won ten out of the twelve seats up for grabs. Incumbents Alexis and Ashley Torres won reelection to their seats in ward 1, district 3. Below are the results of the Utica races.

Oneida County Democratic Committee Ward 1 (2) (100% of precincts)

Craig B. Hook – 41% (11 votes)

Linda S. Derocco 48% (13 votes)

Robby Slade – 11% (3 votes)

Oneida County Democratic Committee Ward 1 (3) (100% of precincts)

Alexis Torres – 33% (10 votes)

Ashley C. Torres – 33% (10 votes)

Sead Pjanic – 23% (7 votes)

Ramiz Andelijia – 10% (3 votes)

Oneida County Democratic Committee Ward 1 (4) (100% of precincts)

Matthew B. Vescera – 43% (42 votes)

Regina Bonacci – 14% (13 votes)

Sanita Torres – 9% (9 votes)

Darrell L. Springstead – 34% (33 votes)

Oneida County Democratic Committee Ward 1 (5) (100% of precincts)

Brenda L. Springstead – 43% (6 votes)

Zuhida Tricic – 43% (6 votes)

Jean C. Sevilla 14% (2 votes)

Oneida County Democratic Committee Ward 1 (7) (100% of precincts)

Frank X. Vescera – 41%

Merima Smaijic – 42%

Jeannine M. Johnson – 11% (8 votes)

Joseph M. Johnson – 7% (5 votes)

Oneida County Democratic Committee Ward 5 (6) (100% of precincts)

Kendra Frazier – 21% (6 votes)

Francisco Colon – 34% (10 votes)

Frances Frazier – 17% (votes)

Dean Comito – 28% (8 votes)

By Larry Tanoury Jr.