Two news stories over the last week might have a great impact on the only competitive countywide race this year - the one for Cayuga County district attorney.
The death of District 3 county legislator Bernard Smith, a Republican, and the recent announcement that there is a probe into affairs in the town of Owasco, might raise voter turnout in both of these areas.
The race to fill the remainder of Smith's term could raise voter turnout in the towns of Mentz, Montezuma and Throop, the home court for Democratic district attorney candidate Michael Bass.
Originally, that legislative seat was not to be up until 2009, the end of the full term. Instead, a competitive race may drive turnout up in this area that could impact this race for the open seat being vacated by Cayuga County District Attorney James Vargason.
Both major political parties have indicated that they will field District 3 candidates for the November election, in what is a fairly compressed election period. While Bass supporters, from the area where he grew up, could be expected to turn out, Republicans, who want to hold on to the legislative seat, might turn out in greater numbers than if no local candidate was running. The end result may be that higher GOP turnout could help Chief Assistant District Attorney Jon Budelmann, the Republican nominee.
In Owasco, it was believed, prior to last weekend, that with all of the recent troubles that were plaguing the new Republican administration in that township over sewer billing and the early resignation of Town Supervisor Merill Badman, that Democrats would be a shoe-in to take over the town that they had controlled for several decades. It wasn't until the controversy about assessments two years ago that voters switched leadership.
Yet the investigation announcement, which could result in criminal charges, has no one publicly stating if it involves the new leadership or the old. But it could have voters turn out in large numbers to vote against any group that may be caught in the legal net.
What makes this all the more interesting is that the investigation has involved the Cayuga County District Attorney's office.
While Budelmann has been careful in his comments, the results of a probe and its handling by the DA's office could impact his chances at taking the office's top spot.
What must be hoped is that the investigation does not drag out, as did that of the sheriff's office last year in the overtime scandal, so that voters don't know what is going on until after they can make a decision on Nov. 6.
Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com.
The race to fill the remainder of Smith's term could raise voter turnout in the towns of Mentz, Montezuma and Throop, the home court for Democratic district attorney candidate Michael Bass.
Originally, that legislative seat was not to be up until 2009, the end of the full term. Instead, a competitive race may drive turnout up in this area that could impact this race for the open seat being vacated by Cayuga County District Attorney James Vargason.
Both major political parties have indicated that they will field District 3 candidates for the November election, in what is a fairly compressed election period. While Bass supporters, from the area where he grew up, could be expected to turn out, Republicans, who want to hold on to the legislative seat, might turn out in greater numbers than if no local candidate was running. The end result may be that higher GOP turnout could help Chief Assistant District Attorney Jon Budelmann, the Republican nominee.
In Owasco, it was believed, prior to last weekend, that with all of the recent troubles that were plaguing the new Republican administration in that township over sewer billing and the early resignation of Town Supervisor Merill Badman, that Democrats would be a shoe-in to take over the town that they had controlled for several decades. It wasn't until the controversy about assessments two years ago that voters switched leadership.
Yet the investigation announcement, which could result in criminal charges, has no one publicly stating if it involves the new leadership or the old. But it could have voters turn out in large numbers to vote against any group that may be caught in the legal net.
What makes this all the more interesting is that the investigation has involved the Cayuga County District Attorney's office.
While Budelmann has been careful in his comments, the results of a probe and its handling by the DA's office could impact his chances at taking the office's top spot.
What must be hoped is that the investigation does not drag out, as did that of the sheriff's office last year in the overtime scandal, so that voters don't know what is going on until after they can make a decision on Nov. 6.
Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com.
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