by Carol Thompson

The nominating petitions are in and four legislators have chosen not to run for re-election to the Oswego County Legislature.

Clayton Brewer, Jack Beckwith, James Bryant, and Lee Walker Jr. did not file nominating petitions for their seats. Brewer and Beckwith announced earlier in the election season that they would not seek re-election.

Bryant instead filed petitions to run for the seat of highway superintendent in the Town of Constantia. Walker, according to the papers filed, will be seeking a seat on the Oswego Common Council.

Mark Fruce is running unopposed for the District 24 seat held by Brewer for 30 years. The veteran legislator said he is not seeking another term at the request of his family.

Beckwith said he wanted to devote more time to his businesses, which include a Christmas tree farm. His District 21 seat is being sought by three candidates. A Republican primary race will be held in September between Terry Wilbur and Donald Cooper. The winner of that race will face Democrat Judy Walsh.

Bryant’s District 5 seat is being sought by Democrat Charles Williams and Republican Ronald Sakomyi.

Three candidates have come forward to run for Walker’s District 15 seat. The Democrats will hold a primary race between Mercedes Neiss and Jacob Mulcahey. The winner of that race will face Michael Joyce, who currently sits on the Oswego Common Council.

Oswego County Republican Chairman George Williams said that this is the first time since the legislature went to 25 seats that there are 25 candidates.

“I think it’s great and it’s a good feeling,” Williams said of the full slate. “We can really test if the Republican majority has brought county government in the right direction.”

With 11 unopposed candidates, the Republican majority will only need to win two seats to retain the majority. That could be decided as soon as the primary election is over.

Some of the candidates are facing only Republican primaries.

Those running unopposed include Legislature Chairman Barry Leemann, Majority Leader Shawn Doyle, and legislators Margaret Kastler, John Proud, Robert Hayes, Linda Lockwood, Kevin Gardner, James Oldenburg, Dan Chalifoux, and Fruce.

District 25 legislator Louella Leclair will face a challenge from Phillip Blair, a Democrat who made an unsuccessful run for mayor of the City of Fulton.

Republican incumbent Morris Sorbello, who represents District 23, will face Sharon Martin in a Republican-primary race.

Legislator Phillip Vasho, a Democrat, will face Republican James Karasek in the November election for the District 22 seat, which encompasses a portion of the City of Fulton and a portion of the Town of Granby. The two faced off in the general election two years ago with Vasho soundly defeating Karasek.

Currently, the Republicans hold a 20-member advantage over the four-member Democrat caucus, with Republican legislator Art Gearsbeck not seated with his party caucus. Gearsbeck is facing a Republican primary race against John R. Martino.

Mulcahey, who serves as the City of Oswego Democrat Committee chairman, said he has been thinking of running for some time. “I think I can make a difference,” he said of his run for the seat being vacated by Walker.