Central Trades and Labor Council endorses Tom Buckel for state Supreme Court
TIMES STAFF WRITER
A group representing 24,000 AFL-CIO union workers in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties endorsed Thomas C. Buckel Jr., an Onondaga County resident, in the race for a judge spot in the state Supreme Court.
The move puts the union group at odds with those who are seeking to elect judges to the Fifth District who reside in Jefferson and Lewis counties amid an inside baseball brawl among smaller and larger counties.
“We look at people, what their record has been,” said Ronald P. McDougal, president of the council. Mr. Buckel has one, he said. “Labor goes beyond where court might or might not be held.”
As part of a “gentleman’s agreement” among party leaders, the six-county Fifth Judicial District has traditionally featured justices who are residents of smaller counties, like Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida and Herkimer counties.
But three Onondaga County residents — Mr. Buckel, Gerard J. Neri, and John G. Stone — are running to fill the four empty seats that had previously featured residents of the smaller counties.
In late September, delegates will huddle at a nominating convention to decide who will run in the November general election.
The union also endorsed Lewis County Democrat Charles C. Merrell and Erin P. Gall, an Oneida County Republican.
Mr. McDougal said that the labor council also endorsed the following candidates in contested primaries and general elections slated for this fall:
■ Judge John Lahtinen, a Republican of Plattsburgh; John M. Silvestri, a Democrat of Warren County; and Ann C. Crowell, a Republican of Saratoga County for the Fourth Judicial District of the state Supreme Court.
■ Devere D. Rumble for Lewis County sheriff. Mr. Rumble is seeking the Republican nomination in a primary against Michael P. Carpinelli, a part-time sheriff’s deputy. The primary is Sept. 13.
■ Randolph M. Myers, a Democrat for Lewis County treasurer. Mr. Myers is running against incumbent Republican Patricia L. O’Brien for the Nov. 8 general election.
■ Cecily L. Morris, a Democrat for St. Lawrence County Family Court judge. She is running against Andrew S. Moses, a Republican.
■ Gavin M. Regan, the Democratic incumbent for St. Lawrence County clerk. He is running against Mary Lou Rupp, a Republican who is the former clerk’s deputy.
