Published: November 04, 2009 02:24 am      

NIAGARA COUNTY: New faces, little change in Legislature makeup

While there will be a few new faces in the Niagara County Legislature next year, there will be no change in the balance of decision-making power.

While voters backed a couple of newcomers, including Democrat Ric Marasco and Republican Vincent Sandonato in the City of Niagara Falls, the majority of incumbents in contested races earned victories, allowing the Republican-led caucus to continue to hold a respectable majority.

In the two contested eastern Niagara races, incumbents Gerald Farnham in the 7th District and Anthony Nemi in the 15th cruised to victory.

7th District

In a rematch of the 2007 race for the legislative seat, Farnham, the endorsed Republican defeated endorsed Democrat Roger Chenez, 1,280 to 703. Farnham, 64, earned his seventh term as the legislator representing the district which includes all of Pendleton and part of Lockport. Farnham’s re-election platform included the idea of central purchasing as a way to cut wasteful spending and duplication. Chenez and the Democratic Party had made an issue of Farnham’s residency, a claim that apparently had as little resonance with voters as it did in state Supreme Court.

15th District

Incumbent Anthony Nemi defeated Democratic challenger Scott Stopa, 853 to 555. Nemi, who is affiliated with the Independence Party, caucuses with the majority Republicans. He ran on his record as a first-term lawmaker, pointing to his accomplishment, early on, in relieving the City of Lockport of paying taxes to the county on a waterline that runs from here to North Tonawanda. The money was instead directed to an account that would in part help keep the infrastructure sound.

Stopa, 30, a newcomer to politics, is a lawyer who campaigned on the issues of stopping the brain drain of young people who seek jobs in greener pastures outside Niagara County. He coupled that with a drive for more transparency in county government.

Marasco’s victory in the 1st District in the Falls allowed the Democrats to secure a seat that was previously held by Jason Murgia, a Democrat who caucused with the GOP.

“I’m elated,” said Marasco, a 59-year-old Niagara Falls school teacher. “I’m happy with the fact that the voters in my district had faith in me. I think that they trusted in my judgment and believed in what I was telling them as far as being truthful and open in government and being fiscally responsible.”

The Republicans erased the Democrats’ gain when upstart GOP candidate Vincent Sandonato scored an upset in the 5th District by defeating Nick Melson, an aide to state Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte who had hoped to replace fellow Democrat Sean O’Connor who retired after 24 years of service in the Legislature.

“It was just a grassroots campaign,” said the 23-year-old Sandonato, who made his first-ever run for office. “Everyday it was door-to-door, knocking on doors and talking to people and being myself. I listened to the people in LaSalle, what the people’s interests were and what they wanted to see improved in their area.”

Incumbents who supported the Republican-led majority managed to hold their seats across the county, with long-time representatives Bill Ross, John Ceretto, Gerald Farnham, Peter Smolinski and Anthony Nemi all overcoming challenges in their respective districts. Democrat and Minority Leader Dennis Virtuoso held onto his seat in the Falls. In the 9th District in North Tonawanda, former city Alderman Phillip R. “Russ” Rizzo defeated Democrat Christopher Perna. Rizzo will replace former legislator Andrea McNulty, a Democrat who caucused with the Republicans. A member of the Independence Party, Rizzo is expected to join the Republican caucus when he takes office next year.

Unofficial election results for rest of the legislative district are as follows:

1st District

Ric Marasco defeated Jason Murgia, 879 to 483. Marasco beat Murgia in the Democratic primary, knocking the incumbent off a key line in the city where Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 3-1 margin. He campaigned as an agent for change in county government. On Tuesday, he said he intended to make good on that commitment to the voters.

Marasco recently underwent emergency surgery but said his health will not be an issue moving forward.

“It’s not anything that I can’t handle,” he said.

The 37-year-old Murgia, who ran on the Republican and two minor lines, was seeking his third full term in office. He did not rule out another campaign in the future.

“I congratulate Mr. Marasco and I wish him luck,” Murgia said. “I’ll pick myself up to run another day.”

“I feel that I did a good job of bringing resources back to the City of Niagara Falls,” Murgia added. “It’s always easy to make campaign promises, but when you get into the Legislature, it’s a whole different ball game.”

4th District

Democrat Dennis Virtuoso, the 57-year-old incumbent who has served for 19 years in the Legislature, defeated Republican challenger Mark Onesi, 793 to 428.

“I feel great,” Virtuoso said. “I’m humbled and honored. I’m just happy voters in Niagara Falls gave another chance to represent them. I’m going to do the same I’ve been doing — being a watchdog for county dollars and keep watching out for City of Niagara Falls.”

5th District

Republican Vincent Sandonato beat Democrat Nick Melson, 1,012 to 804. An assistant at an Amherst law firm, Sandonato campaigned heavily on his ability to draw attention to the needs of the residents in the district which includes the LaSalle area.

“I truly believe this is a very positive step forward for LaSalle,” he said.

8th District

William Ross, the Legislature chairman for the past six years, defeated Democratic challenger Robert Collins, 1,515 to 682. The 75-year-old Ross has served in the Legislature since 1987.

9th District

Phillip R. Rizzo defeated Christopher Perna, 1,226-1,014. Rizzo, 76, is a member of the Independence Party who received the backing of the local GOP. He will replace Andrea McNulty who resigned in September after announcing her decision to move into her husband’s home outside of the North Tonawanda district in the Town of Pendleton.

10th District

Peter Smolinski held off newcomer and endorsed Democrat Katie Rich, 1,018 to 762.

12th District

John Ceretto fended off a challenge from Democratic newcomer, Dan Antonucci. Results show Ceretto winning in a 1,545 to 854.

“It tells me that they believe in me and that we’re doing the right things in county government,” said Ceretto, a 57-year-old state parks naturalist who secured his third term.

Ceretto said he intends to continue his work on environmental programs and his campaign to improve the relationship between the county and the New York State Power Authority. One of his main goals, he said, is to make sure the county gets a representative on the NYPA Board of Trustees.

Ten county lawmakers faced no opposition in this year's race. They included: Niagara Falls Democrats Renae Kimble and Jason Cafarella; Paul Wojtaszek, R-North Tonawanda, Clyde Burmaster, R-Ransomville; Lockport Republicans W. Keith McNall and Richard Updegrove; John Syracuse, R-Newfane, Michael Hill, R-Hartland; Kyle Andrews, D-Wilson and Danny Sklarski, a Democrat from the Town of Niagara who caucuses with the Republican-led majority.