Monroe, NY – Only one seat on the 21-member Orange County Legislature is up for grabs on Nov. 6, but it's a doozy.
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Republican Greg Townsend, Democrat Myrna Kemnitz and independent Gary DeFilippis are competing in a race that will determine which party — if any — controls the county Legislature for the next two years.
Democrats have a shot at winning a majority for the first time in the Legislature's 37-year history — and becoming a more powerful foil for Republican County Executive Ed Diana.
The closest thing to a campaign issue is the influence of Kiryas Joel, which is outside the district.
DeFilippis argues that his opponents are linked through their parties to the leaders of the village's two major voting blocs. He presents himself as the only candidate with no such connections.
"I'm basically running to give people a choice," he said. "That's all I'm in this for."
But both Townsend and Kemnitz denied Kiryas Joel ties. [Record]
The Hon. MR. De Fillipis might be [un-PLEASANTLY] surprised that there is a large (voter-bloc) base for an “Independent” candidate in Kiryas Joel. But his [real] platform is ANTI-KJ. The “Independence” is only a Euphemism.