At 9:27 p.m. Tuesday, Lewiston Town Supervisor Fred Newlin turned to one of his supporters and said simply, “I’m not going to win.”
As the vote totals from across the town continued to come in, Newlin supporters looked at the white board where the numbers were being recorded and began to shake their heads.
“It’s over,” one of them said.
Newlin, staring at the board which showed him losing in virtually every town and village election district, including the one where he lives and where he grew up, said sadly, “It’s everywhere. It’s everywhere.”
“There was very low voter turnout,” the three term incumbent Democrat said. “There was very negative campaigning and we heavily outspent.”
When the final numbers were tallied, Newlin had been swept from office by Town Highway Superintendent Steve Reiter. With 100 percent of the districts reporting, Reiter the endorsed Republican, Conservative and Working Families candidate had 2,053, or 54.7 percent of the votes to 1,457 or 38.8 percent for Newlin, the Democratic and Lewiston’s Choice parties standard bearer.
Independent party candidate Kathryn Mazierski, who had challenged Newlin in the Democratic primary, picked up 243 votes, or 6.4 percent of the tally.
“It’s very emotional,” Reiter said of his resounding victory. “I’m always in awe when people get out of their warm homes and support me in a manner like they demonstrated tonight.”
Reiter said he was ready to begin working with the Town Council on projects including services for seniors, recreational opportunities and other initiatives. The election results for supervisor and town council has flipped the council from a 3-2 Democrat control to a 4-1 GOP majority.
“Lewiston won’t be the best kept secret in Western New York,” Reiter said, “just the best place in Western New York.”
Newlin expressed disappointment at being turned away by the voters.
“By any measure, Lewiston is better off then we were before (his first election),” Newlin said. “Maybe I should have communicated that better.”
He said a recent decrease in the National Grid discount rate for Lewiston residents probably hurt his bid.
“It’s disappointing. I think we accomplished a lot in the last six years,” Newlin said. “But at the end of the day you have to respect the decision of the voters. I’m hoping over time they’ll look back and appreciate what we did.”
Lewiston
Related Photos
-
Steve Reiter is all smiles as he receives a congratulatory kiss from daughters Liz Taibi, 21, left and Mary Taibi, 23, right, after the polls came in showing his win in the Lewiston supervisor race.
LEWISTON: Reiter ousts Newlin
- Lewiston
-
-
Labor group laments economic development efforts
Economic development in New York state has become a joke to some in the area. And many of them are demanding changes to a process which spends approximately $3 billion a year.
-
Repaving work on Old Military Road rises to $790K
Sometimes a change is good. Sometimes a change is bad. For the Town of Lewiston, a change can be pretty costly.
-
Lewiston village board contends with safety issues
The Lewiston Village Board thinks it's unsafe to conduct fundraisers in the middle of its busiest street.
In an effort to keep everyone safe as possible along Center Street, the board denied a varsity football team request to collect money from motorists buzzing by on June 2 and 16 and instead approved the team to hold a car wash at the village hall.
-
Lewiston could receive new lease for Joe Davis
The town could soon assume greater control at Joseph Davis State Park.
According to town Supervisor Steve Reiter, New York State Parks may be caving on an extended lease agreement, which would allow the Joseph Davis State Park Local Development Corp. to move forward with plans for improving the property.
-
Lewiston jet boat suit tossed
The second of two lawsuits brought against the Village of Lewiston and Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours has been dismissed.
-
Lewiston officials back in Sanborn Wednesday
They did it to make sure the proposed zoning changes were appropriate, but Town of Lewiston officials were back in the Sanborn Fire Hall explaining their reasonings again Wednesday.
-
Lew-Port school board lays out budget
When Lewiston and Porter residents hit the polls Tuesday, they'll be deciding three items.
-
Lewiston historical group approved for war re-enactment
It's never too early to plan a commemoration, especially for the Historical Association of Lewiston and the bicentennial of the Battle of Queenston Heights.
-
Legislature raps Army Corps' plan to replace LOOW Resident Advisory Board
The county Legislature went on record last week supporting the existing residents’ panel trying to advise the federal government on clean-up of a radioactive waste site in Lewiston-Porter.
-
$863,000 budget gap could leave some out of a job at Lew-Port
Though Superintendent Christopher Roser said he has tried desperately to avoid cutting positions at Lewiston-Porter, his attempts may have struck out.
- More Lewiston Headlines
-
Labor group laments economic development efforts
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
