Skamperle, Cilley to join Ogdensburg City Council

OGDENSBURG — Daniel E. Skamperle and R. Storm Cilley are headed to the City Council, but who will join them to fill out the three available seats may not be settled for a while.

Mr. Skamperle, who was on the Democratic and Conservative lines, received the most votes, with 1,590, followed by the 1,372 votes received by Mr. Cilley, a Republican.

Michael D. Morley, who is seeking his third term on the City Council, received 1,117 votes, followed by Republican Robert G. Flavin, who earned 1,077 votes. That 40-vote gap could be closed once outstanding absentee ballots are counted.

All early election results remain unofficial until late absentee ballots are counted and the numbers are certified, a process that can stretch out more than a week.

Mr. Skamperle and Mr. Cilley will fill seats vacated by Republican Matthew J. Flynn and Democrat Thomas A. Hannan, who decided not to run for re-election.

"I want to thank everyone who supported me, especially family and friends who supported me throughout the campaign," said Mr. Skamperle, a social studies teacher at Massena Central School, when reached for comment Tuesday night. "I'm going to do my best to represent the taxpayers of the city of Ogdensburg."

Mr. Cilley, an elementary school gym teacher in the Ogdensburg City School District and the treasurer for the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad, said he was going to work hard to live up to his supporters' expectations.

"I'm pleased that people thought of me enough to support me," Mr. Cilley said. He also wanted to thank his wife, Kim S., who "reluctantly supported me," he joked.

Mr. Morley, a Niagara Mohawk retiree, was on the Republican, Conservative and Democratic lines. He said he wanted to thank his supporters and said he'd wait until the absentee ballots were counted.

"I would like to thank the people who voted for me," Mr. Morley said. "I'd like to serve four more years."

Mr. Flavin, a 2003 retiree from Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, a veteran of the Navy and currently a fishing guide, said he wanted to congratulate his fellow candidates.

"I want to congratulate all of the winners," he said, "and thank everybody who voted for me."

There are 5,796 registered voters in Ogdensburg. An estimated 2,006 city residents participated in Tuesday's election.