Neuhaus wins top county office

GOSHEN — Steve Neuhaus won the race for Orange County executive, according to the unofficial results of the county board of elections Tuesday night.

Neuhaus, a Republican and the Chester town supervisor, led comfortably with 55 percent of the vote. His Democratic rival, Roxanne Donnery, has 44 percent in unofficial results. A total of 65,582 ballots were cast for county executive Tuesday.

Neuhaus will take over from the longtime county executive, Republican Edward Diana, who is retiring.

Neuhaus will resign as Chester supervisor on Dec. 31. Deputy Supervisor Alex Jamieson will serve as interim supervisor until the town board appoints a replacement to serve through 2014.

If the town board gives the supervisor's position to Jamieson or other board member, it will also appoint the member's replacement on the board.

The next election for Chester supervisor will be held in November 2014. The winner of that election will serve out the rest of Neuhaus's four-year term, which extends through 2015. Any town board seat vacated to fill the supervisor's position will also be up for election next year.

SHANNON WONG AND JOHN VERO ELECTED TO LEGISLATURE

For county legislator in the 10th District, Republican John Vero handily beat Democrat Michael Mallon with 61 percent of the vote. Vero will fill the seat now held by Albert Buckbee, who did not run for re-election.

Democrat Shannon Wong won the three-way race for county legislator in the 21st District, a seat now held by the retiring Tom Pahucki. Wong received 43 percent of the vote, Republican James O’Donnell, 38 percent; and Philip Canterino, a member of the Goshen town board who ran on the Conservative line, 19 percent.

VILLAGE OF CHESTER: VALASTRO RE-ELECTED

The incumbent mayor of Chester, Philip Valastro, won re-election with 57 percent of the vote, fending off a challenge from Norm Cottrill.

Other races in the village of Chester were non-competitive: L. Fred Vandermeulen, justice; and Carole A. Duffy (46 percent) and Betty Jo Bono (53 percent), trustees.

TOWN OF GOSHEN: LYONS AND NEWBOLD RE-ELECTED

Goshen saw a competitive race for town board. The incumbents, Republican George Lyons and Democrat Ken Newbold, will return after a challenge from Republican Theresa Makuen. Lyons received 38 percent of the vote, Newbold 32 percent, and Makuen 29 percent.

Doug Bloomfield ran unopposed for supervisor. In other non-competitive races in the Town of Goshen:

Town clerk — Valma A. Eisma (Republican, Conservative, Independence)

Receiver of taxes — Judith L. Andrews (Republican, Conservative, Independence)

Superintendent of highways — P. Broderick Knoell (Republican, Conservative, Independence)

TOWN OF BLOOMING GROVE; FROMAGET WINS SUPERVISOR

In the Town of Blooming Grove, Democrat Robert Fromaget won the race for supervisor, a seat currently held by Republican Frank Fornario. Fromaget won with 41 percent of the vote. Republican Brandon Nielson received 34 percent and Conservative Kathy Wells-Calhoun won 25 percent of the vote.

TOWN OF CHESTER
There were noncompetitive races in the Town of Chester. Running unopposed were:

Town clerk — Elizabeth A. Reilly (Republican, Conservative, Independence)

Town justice — Sharon Worthy-Spiegl (Republican, Conservative, Independence)

Town board — Jerry Murray (Republican, Conservative, Independence), Robert Valentine (Republican, Conservative, Independence)

Receiver of taxes — Vincent A. Maniscalco (Republican, Conserative, Independence)

OTHER COUNTY RACES
In other county races, Republican David M. Hoovler was elected district attorney with 65 percent of the vote against Democrat Michael Isgur, with 35 percent.

Republican Annie Rabbitt won county clerk with 59 percent of the vote. Democrat Deborah Mulqueen received 41 percent.