<!--Rick Pfeiffer--><table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Rick Pfeiffer</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:rick.pfeiffer@niagara-gazette.com">rick.pfeiffer@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>
For Fred Newlin it was a resounding victory.
From Kathryn Mazierski’s view, it was the first in “a series of steps.”
The results of the Democratic party primary for Lewiston Town supervisor weren’t close, with Newlin, a three-term incumbent handily defeating his challenger, a political newcomer. With all the election districts reporting, Newlin had 433 votes to Mazierski’s 265, according to unofficial numbers from the Niagara County Board of Elections.
“It’s a much bigger win than I predicted,” Newlin said. “In some districts the margin was as much as 3-to-1.”
Despite her defeat, Mazierski was anything but downbeat.
“I think for a first timer I did pretty well,” she said. “For me, it’s not about the endorsement, it’s about the principles and I am going to stay true to them.”
Mazierski said she will campaign aggressively on the Independence Party line in the November general election. She said she would immediately challenge Newlin and the endorsed Republican candidate, Steven Reiter, to a debate.
“I’m going to do what’s right on the Independence line and take about the issues,” she said.
Addressing supporters at a victory party at a Lewiston pub, Newlin charged that primary results were a repudiation of what he called outsiders looking to control the town.
“There is no joy in Mudville ... er North Tonawanda tonight,” Newlin said. “This campaign was waged by politicians there. They were hoping to take control of Lewiston and this win means we are staying independent.”
Newlin, who had never faced a primary challenge before, admitted he had some worries prior to the balloting Tuesday.
“My opponent out spent me 10-to-1 in a very negative campaign,” he said. “But Lewiston has a long history of rejecting negative politics and that proved true again tonight.”
The veteran supervisor said he now hopes to ride his primary victory to re-election in November.
“I got a lot of momentum, more than I expected,” Newlin sad. “I’ll take the same positive campaign door-to-door now for November.”
