Absentee ballots cement GOP primary results

AMENIA — The Dutchess County Board of Elections (BOE) began tallying up the absentee ballots from the Tuesday, June 22, Amenia Republican Primary Election one week later, on Tuesday, June 29, but stated unequivocally it would not announce any of the races until it could announce all of the races. It did so on Thursday, July 1, announcing the unofficial winners, adding the results would be certified shortly.

Incumbent town Supervisor Victoria Perotti won with 120 votes, guaranteeing a spot in the November General Election, when she’ll run for her fifth two-year term. Perotti also ran on the Conservative Party line in the primary. She faced newcomer Julie Doran, who received 109 votes and also ran on the newly-formed independent Amenia Strong party line.

For the Amenia Town Board, which has two open four-year term town councilmember positions come November, incumbent Councilman James Morris won the top spot with a majority of 126 votes, followed by newcomer Brad Rebillard, who also ran on the Amenia Strong line and garnered 111 votes. 

Newcomer Jamie Vitiello, who also ran on the Amenia Strong line, came in third place with 107 votes while incumbent Michele Somogyi, who like her Town Board colleague Morris only ran on the GOP line, came in last place with 106 votes. 

There were two seats to fill on the Dutchess County Republican Committee, with incumbent Mark Doyle hoping to return to the office. He will do just that as he received the majority of 34 votes, followed by Jeanne Rebillard (wife of Town Board candidate Brad Rebillard) with 24 votes and Apostolis Stefanopoulos coming a close third place with 23 votes.

The results are posted on the BOE’s website, www.elections.dutchessny.gov.