Low voter turnout; close races

Yesterday's local elections attracted fewer than 2000 Arcadia and Newark voters, from a possible 8000 who are registered. And although most voters stayed home, those who ventured to the polls made it a tight three-way race for two seats on the Town Council.

Unofficial figures show GOP incumbents Gary Grant (1253 votes), and Mike Diamond (1172) as the top two vote-getters. Democrat Tony Comella garnered 1014 votes in his first bid for political office. The newcomer remains optimistic that the 169 absentee ballots to be counted next Wednesday might at least narrow the 158-vote margin between him and Diamond.

Comella, who also ran on an independent party line, was the only Democrat on the town's ballot. Republican incumbents Town Justice Art Williams and Receiver of Taxes Marsha Bowker ran unopposed.

In Lyons, there can be no decision on the Mayoral race until absentee ballots are certified next week. The unofficial numbers there stand at 505 for Republican John Cinelli and 501 for Dem Joe Ferndino. Trustee in that village race went to the two Democrats - former Police Chief John Lese and Jack Bailey.

Absentee ballots might also affect the outcome in the four-way run for two Lyons Town Council seats. Right now, Larry Hartwell is the top vote-getter (568), followed by GOP incumbent Earl Buchannan (565), Jerry Crandall (561), and Paul Fowler (516).

Don 'Jake' Emmel won the race for Lyons Highway Superintendent by better than a 2-1 margin.

Running unopposed: Lyons Supervisor Jim Fabino, Town Clerk Sal Colatarci and Justice Jim Blandino.

In Galen, it looks like Julius Vitticore and Mary DeLisio will be seated at the Town Council - no absentee ballots needed there.

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