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2023 municipal election results are in

2023 municipal election results are in

Election workers compiled the results of the municipal elections in Falls Village. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan
 

Election Day 2023 saw contested selectmen races in five of the six Region One towns. Polls closed at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7, and the votes have been tallied.

New first selectmen have been elected in four of the six towns with many more fresh faces filling board seats throughout the region.

Results by town

Cornwall 

First Selectman: Gordon Ridgway (D)
Selectman: Rocco Botto (D)
Selectman: Jennifer Hurlburt Markow (U)

Cornwall re-elected Gordon Ridgway (D) to his 17th term as first selectman. Filling out the Board of Selectmen in Cornwall for the next two years is Rocco Botto (D) and Jennifer Hurlburt Markow (U). 

Falls Village

First Selectman: Dave Barger (D)
Selectman: Judy Jacobs (R)
Selectman: Chris Kinsella (D)

Falls Village has elected Dave Barger (D) to the seat of first selectman. His running mate Chris Kinsella (D) and Judy Jacobs (R) will fill out the Board of Selectmen through 2025. Greg Marlowe (R), incumbent selectman and candidate for first selectman, was voted off the board.

Kent

First Selectman: Marty Lindenmayer (U)
Selectman: Glenn Sanchez (D)
Selectman: Lynn Mellis Worthington (D)

In Kent’s three-way race for first selectman, Marty Lindenmayer (U) emerged victorious. Glenn Sanchez (D) was re-elected to the board and Lynn Mellis Worthington (D), who was running for first selectman, will round out Kent’s Board of Selectmen for the next two years.

North Canaan

First Selectman: Brian Ohler (R)
Second Selectman: Craig Whiting (R)
Third Selectman: Jesse Bunce (D)

North Canaan elected Brian Ohler (R) to become the new first selectman through 2025. His running mate Craig Whiting (R) was re-elected to the seat of second selectman for the fourth time. Newcomer Jesse Bunce (D) received more votes than three-term incumbent Christian Allyn (D) for the seat of third selectman. Allyn was running for first selectman.

Salisbury

First Selectman: Curtis Rand (D)
Selectman: Christian Williams (D)
Selectman: Katherine Kiefer (U)

In Salisbury, Curtis Rand (D) ran unopposed for first selectman and will fill the role for his 10th term. Christian Williams (D) was re-elected as selectman along with challenger Katherine Kiefer (U), who previously served on the Board of Selectmen in Salisbury from 2013-2017. Kiefer will replace Don Mayland (R) on the Board. A slender eight-vote margin between Mayland and Kiefer automatically triggered a recount. On Wednesday morning, Nov. 8, the Salisbury registrars were busy setting up the recount for Monday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m. at Town Hall.

Sharon

First Selectman: Casey T. Flanagan (D)
Selectman: Lynn Sharon Kearcher (D)
Selectman: John Brett (U)

Sharon’s selectmen races were uncontested. Casey Flanagan won first selectman with Lynn Sharon Kearcher (D) and John Brett (U) filling the other two selectmen seats.

Lakeville Journal

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Lelah M. Somers

Lelah M. Somers

DOVER PLAINS — Lelah M. Somers, 97, a longtime Dover Plains, New York, resident, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck, New York. Lelah was born on July 3, 1929, in Pawling, New York, to the late Byron and Lelah (Watts) Brill. Lelah grew up in Pawling and on Nov. 22, 1946, in Pleasant Valley, New York, she married James F. Somers, Sr. Mr. Somers passed away on Sept. 3, 1970. Lelah worked for New York State as a therapy aide for thirty-years and as a senior companion for New York State for thirty-two-years, with specific care provided to the mentally disabled.

She enjoyed taking care of the mentally disabled, was a wonderful mother to her four children, always putting her family first. She is survived by her son, James F. Somers, Jr. and his wife Donna of Dover Plains; two daughters, Doreen Monica of Wingdale, and Frances “Fran” Horton of Dover Plains, who was also her caregiver for many years; seven grandchildren, Debbie, Margie, Leah, Stephanie, Deirdra, Benji and Jimmy and several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, and her step-son, Kenny Elliott. In addition to her parents and husband, Lelah was predeceased by her daughter and son-in-law, Carol “DeeDee” Maile and Gil Maile, her son-in-law, Stephen Monica, and her son-in-law, Benny Horton as well as her companion of over forty-years, Andrew “Mac” McAlravey and her siblings, Ferris Brill, Eleanor Barryann, Richard Brill, William Brill and Barney Brill.

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