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Conrad Seen As Possible Favorite Among Candidates to Replace Palmer

By Frank Parlato

William Conrad seems to be a leading contender for the vacancy in the town board created by the surprise resignation of Ernie Palmer.
Just to be clear, the William Conrad mentioned in the story is not the actor of the same name.
Pictured above (L-R)- Former Councilman Ernie Palmer, Former Supervisor Steve Reiter, Councilman Al Marra Bax, Superintendent of Highway Doug Janese, Councilman Ron Winkley and Councilman Mike Marra .


The Lewiston Town Board has announced it is accepting letters of interest from those who might wish to succeed Ernie Palmer who suddenly resigned last month after amid new revelations of the theft of gas and other town goods and services by Palmer ally, former Town Supervisor Steven Reiter.

"We have a lot of interest and we will be interviewing everyone," Councilman Ron Winkley promised. Several names have emerged as possible candidates, including former Village Trustee Bill Geiben, current Trustees Bruce Sutherland and Victor E. Eydt, former Village Mayor Richard B. Soluri, former Deputy Supervisor Gary Catlin, Lewiston real estate brokers Jeffrey Williams and Tom Deal, businesswoman Elizabeth Grenga, former Lewiston GOP Chairman Bob Ciszewski and former Niagara Wheatfield School Board President William Conrad.

By several accounts, Conrad seems to be on the short list. That may be because he lives in Sanborn or, rather, he doesn't live in the Village of Lewiston. While the village accounts for only 17 percent of the total population of Lewiston (Town 16,262; Village: 2,701) presently, 75 percent of the representation, the supervisor and two of three board members, live in the Village of Lewiston. Only Councilman Alphonso Bax lives outside the village.

The Town Board's work session is Monday, March 10, when it is expected interviews will take place for council candidates. A decision, which will be made by the board majority comprised of Republicans Mike Marra, Winkley and Bax, is expected to be announced at the March 24th meeting. Supervisor Dennis Brochey, who defeated Palmer for the supervisor last November, is a Democrat.

Because Palmer resigned before August of this year, a special election will be held in November for the seat. Whoever takes the vacancy by appointment would have to run for election in November for the right to complete Palmer's term and run again the following November to be elected to a full term on their own. Palmer, who has served on the board since 2007, resigned effective Feb. 21.

 

 

Niagara Falls Reporter - Publisher Frank Parlato Jr. www.niagarafallsreporter.com

Mar 04, 2014