WEST CHAZY — Sam Dyer will return to his old seat as Beekmantown Town Supervisor, and Jim Monty will be the town’s lone justice following election day.
Dyer (D, Working Families) defeated challenger Brett Wyand (R), with unofficial results showing a 1,540 to 1,148 lead, Tuesday.
“I’m very happy with the voter turnout, it was excellent,” Dyer said. “I’m ecstatic that that many people voted, and the difference was what the difference is.”
Dyer added that he was happy to get back into the job in any way, even if it means taking over the year of unexpired term that was left open due to the resignation of former Town Supervisor Norm Davis earlier this year, with another election to follow.
“I didn’t know how I was going to have to do this; I came back as a councilman, and I made it clear that I was coming back after my job,” Dyer said. “I enjoyed being the supervisor of the town, I left the legislature to do this job, and I’m happy that the people of Beekmantown have elected me to do it again for one year, and I want the four years that come after that.”
Dyer said he views the most important goal in the initial year as completing the town’s ongoing water district project, and, following that, he wants to work on progress in the town’s recreation department.
“The biggest thing is, I want people to know that their tax dollars are being spent very wisely.”
JUSTICE
Also on the ballot was a proposition that would decide how many justices would serve the town court, following the town board’s decision to reduce it to one justice this summer and a subsequent petition that got that decision put on the ballot.
A “yes” vote to the proposition was in support of the petition, reinstating the second town justice position, while a “no” vote kept the newly reduced count of one justice position. The no votes won 1,701 to 954.
“This has been being looked at for three years; the board voted unanimously, and I think the taxpayers understood what they were voting on, and continued what we want to do,” Dyer said. “With the taxpayers voting the way they did, they secured (the board’s) vote.”
James “Jim” Monty (R) won the one justice seat that the town will have moving forward.
“We will help him in any way shape or form we can to do the job,” Dyer said.
FINAL RESULTS
Beekmantown also voted in a new highway superintendent, with Warren Russell (R) receiving 2,037 votes.
Wyand did not respond to requests for comment by press time.
Dyer thanked everyone who took part in the process, Tuesday, and added that he hopes the next few years can see people move away from the polarized times we live in.
“We have to work with whoever is elected to do these jobs, and move forward; this country has got to get along, and it starts at the grassroots,” Dyer said. “I thank everybody that voted, whether they voted for me or not. That’s what it’s all about.”