Primary election features judge vs. judge

Age is an issue due to mandated retirement

By FRITZ MAYER

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Of the 10 races coming before primary voters this month, the one appearing in every town in Sullivan County features incumbent Judge Burt Ledina in a race against challenger Justice Cindy Barber.

On her website, Barber points out that if Burton is elected, the 67-year-old judge will be forced to retire in three years. By law, county judges are required to step down at the end of the year in which they reach their 70th birthday. In that case, an early election would be held in November of that year to choose a new judge who would then be voted to fill a full 10-year term.

Barber’s website says, “The governor could intervene to appoint his successor to fill the vacancy until a special election can be held.” But, according to Lee Daglian, the director of public affairs for the New York State Board of Elections, that would only happen if Burton chose to retire before the end of the year. In that case, the governor would appoint an interim judge to serve only until the end of the year.

Barber’s site says, “I strongly believe that only the voters should make the choice as to who holds the seat as their next county court judge. I believe I am an ideal fit for the position.”

Ledina has told a reporter that he loves his job, is good at it and wants to serve as long as the voters allow. Ledina also said there is a movement to push back the retirement age for judges.

According to Ledina’s website, he has 38 years of judicial experience in Sullivan County. He is currently the Sullivan County Court Judge, the Acting Supreme Court Judge and Acting Family Court Judge. He is running on the Republican and Conservative Party lines.

Barber, 50, has been the Bethel Town Justice for 12 years, has a law practice in Monticello and spent six years as a confidential attorney to Family Court Justice Mark Meddaugh. She is running on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines.

In the primary, the jurists are vying for the right to run on the Independence Party line.

Other races

There is a three-way race to gain the Republican nomination to fill the role of Bethel highway supervisor. William Crumley and Richard Hendrickson are facing off against incumbent Bernie Cohen. All three men reside in Smallwood.

In Lumberland, three people are running to fill two slots on the Republican ticket for councilman. The candidates are Nadia Rajsz, Joseph F. Carr Jr. and Jay H. Shafer.

In Fallsburg, incumbent supervisor Steve Levine is running against Kenneth DeMars for the Conservative Party line.

Also in Fallsburg, four candidates?Ada E. Cole, Kevin Austin McDaniel, Arnold Seletsky and Joe Levner?are competing for the Democratic nomination for a council seat.

In Liberty, former Councilman Sean Hanofee and current Councilman Thomas Hasbrouck are running for two slots on the Independence Party line. This race is appearing on the primary ballot because an unidentified person filed a petition to allow for a write-in candidate in this race?so Hanofee and Hasbrouck are running against one or more potential write-in candidates.

In Mamakating, there are two races for Conservative Party Committee seats. One is between Mark Lewis Schulman and Donald Lara Jr. The other is between James Thompson and Esther R. Walsh.

Also in Mamakating, there is a three-way race for a seat on the Democratic Party Committee between Patricia Brennan, Brian Minerly and Paul Champagne.

Finally in Mamakating, two candidates, Nicholas M. Salomone Jr. and John Moul, are competing to gain the Republican Party nomination to become the next supervisor. The current supervisor, Charles Penna, is now running for Kathy LaBuda’s seat in the Sullivan County Legislature.

Primary day is on September 18, and the polls are open from 12:00 noon to 9:00 p.m.