Primary races to watch that aren't Buffalo mayor
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo mayor primary election is drawing the most headlines across Western New York, but several other towns are also holding primary elections on Tuesday.
Three major Erie County towns: Amherst, Orchard Park and Hamburg, will all hold Republican primaries for town supervisor. A few other smaller towns will also hold Republican primaries.
Here are some of the notable town supervisor races happening this week.
Amherst will have a new supervisor starting in January no matter what. Brian Kulpa, who has been town supervisor since January 2018, is term-limited and will not be on the ballot again.
Dan Gagliardo and Dennis Hoban will both be on the Republican primary ballot. Both are outspoken critics of Kulpa's administration. Residents have been concerned with the town's finances since an 11.4% tax levy hike in the 2024 budget.
Republicans, most notably Gagliardo, have been critical of the town spending $7.8 million to buy the former Westwood Country Club and convert it into a public golf course and park.
Amherst GOP candidate: Residents should have been included in Westwood Country Club property plans
Town Republicans have endorsed Gagliardo. The winner of Tuesday's election will face deputy supervisor Shawn Lavin in the general election in November.
Incumbent supervisor Eugene Majchrzak will have a challenger in the Republican primary from Joseph Liberti, who has the endorsement of the town's Republican committee.
Liberti is a member of the town council and has been a member of both the town planning board and the zoning board of appeals. He has been on the town board since 2021.
Majchrzak has been supervisor since 2020 after longtime supervisor Patrick Keem stepped down. He was formally voted into the role in 2021.
The winner of the race will face Democrat Marie Mahon, who has never run for public office.
Hamburg is set to have a new supervisor in January.
Beth Farrell Lorentz, who has been on the town board since 2018, has the endorsement of the town's Republican committee. She will face Joshua Collins, a real estate agent, in the Republican primary.
The winner of the race will face Democrat-endorsed candidate Bob Reynolds, who served as an Erie County legislator from 2006 until 2009.
Longtime town clerk Cathy Rybczynski took over as interim supervisor in January after Randy Hoak resigned after three years on the job. Rybczynski is not running for a full term.
In Alden, incumbent town supervisor Colleen Pautler faces a primary challenger in Michael Retzlaff, who is the mayor of Alden village.
There is no Democrat in the race, meaning the winner Tuesday will likely win the general election.
In Elma, incumbent supervisor Wayne Clark faces a challenge in deputy supervisor Lee Kupczyk. There is no Democrat challenger.
Finally, in Lewiston, incumbent supervisor Steve Broderick will face Edward Lilly in a Republican primary. There is no Democrat challenger. Broderick has been town supervisor in Lewiston since 2015.
Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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