Key races to be decided in primary

Posted at: 09/13/2012 11:22 AM | Updated at: 09/13/2012 12:19 PM
By: WNYT Staff

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Voters across New York State will be heading to the polls for today’s primary election. There are several significant races in the Capital Region.

Albany County District Attorney

There are only two candidates in the race for Albany County District Attorney.

That means whoever wins today's primary will be the next DA.

Defense attorney Lee Kindlon has not made this an easy race incumbent David Soares. Before working in Albany County, Kindlon served in the Marines as a judge advocate. He's the son of local attorney Terry Kindlon.

Soares is seeking his third term as county DA. He defeated incumbent Paul Clyne in 2004.

44^th State Senate

In the 44th state Senate District, incumbent state Sen. Neil Breslin faces a challenge from Shawn Morse.

Breslin has held the seat since 1996.    

Morse is a firefighter and chairman of the Albany County Legislature.

The new district lines now include two-thirds of Albany County and Troy.

There's no Republican running. So the winner of the primary will likely be the winner in November.

Breslin will also appear on the ballot in November on the Independence Party line.

43^rd State Senate

The race for the 43rd state Senate seat has become one of the nastiest local races. Incumbent Roy McDonald faces off against Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione for the Republican line.

Mcdonald, formerly a state assemblyman, is seeking a third term in the state Senate.

He was one of four Republicans who voted in favor of same-sex marriage last year.

He's also on the Independence Party line. That means regardless of the primary outcome, he will be on the ballot in November.

Marchione is also running on the Conservative line in the primary, where she faces Edward Gilbert.

The 43rd state Senate District covers all of Columbia County and parts of Rensselaer, Saratoga and Washington counties.

109^th Assembly

In the 109th Assembly District, there is a six-way race to replace Jack McEneny, who retiring at the end of his term.

Frank Commisso Jr. is a member of the Albany Common Council.

Jim Coyne is the former Albany County executive who did time in federal prison for a bribery scandal in the 1990s.

Patricia Fahy is the former president of the Albany City School Board.

Christopher Higgins is an Albany County legislator.

Attorney William McCarthy is with the attorney general's office.

Margarita Perez is the chief of staff to state Sen. Jose Peralta.

The winner faces Republican Ted Danz.

The 109th district covers the western section of Albany, Bethlehem, New Scotland and Guilderland

108^th Assembly

Democrats will decide who will replace current Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari.

Albany Common Council President Carolyn McLaughlin is facing Cohoes Mayor John McDonald in the primary.

The 108th district stretches along the Hudson River from Waterford down to Rensselaer.

Polls close at 9 p.m.