Cliffe, Doucet, Helwig win in primary; Catchpole loses Dem line

Current Wheatfield Supervisor Robert Cliffe and councilmen Larry Helwig and Gilbert Doucet handily defeated their opponents in their Republican primary races on Tuesday.

"Although this was a hotly contested primary race, for Gil Doucet, Larry Helwig and me, it is gratifying that a solid majority of voters have again chosen responsible government," Cliffe said. "With this decision, it is time for all Republicans to come together and join supporters from all parties as we move on to the general election. With finances now in good shape, when we come around to say hello, we ask all residents to please share your ideas as to where we go from here. Thank you for your trust."

Unofficial results (absentee ballots have yet to be counted) from the Niagara County Board of Elections show Cliffe, who is finishing his first two-year term as supervisor this year, had 717 votes (57 percent) while former longtime supervisor Timothy Demler had 540 votes (43 percent).

Voters gave Helwig 761 votes (36.1 percent) and Doucet 726 votes (34.5 percent), while challenger Craig Schultz lost his bid for the Republican line with 619 votes (29.4 percent).

In Niagara County Legislature District 5, unofficial results show Niagara Falls firefighter Jason A. Zona won with 644 votes (56.9 percent) on the Democratic line, while Town of Niagara resident Brittany I. Catchpole, appointed this year to finish former Legislator Danny Sklarski's term, received 487 votes (43.06 percent). Catchpole did carry the Town of Niagara by 82 votes. Although Catchpole lost the Democratic line, she remains on the November ballot on the Independence line, where she received 19 votes (100 percent). Working Families listed Zona and an opportunity to ballot. Zona received three votes there (100 percent).

The only primary in the Town of Niagara was for superintendent of highways. Unofficial results there show that Donald E. Schildhauer received 82 votes (51.6 percent) on the Republican line, while Robert E. Herman Sr., who left his position as councilman for an appointment as superintendent of highways, received 77 votes (48.4 percent). In this race, yet-to-be counted absentee ballots could make a difference.