By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – There were two Democratic primaries in the Erie County Legislature. In the 8th district, incumbent Thomas Mazur beat challenger Lynn Dearmyer, 53 to 47 percent. In the 9th district, challenger Christina Bove beat incumbent Timothy Wroblewski 52 to 48 percent.
Several candidates recruited by Erie County Executive Chris Collins for the County Legislature won minor party primaries Tuesday. Collins is hoping to elect more Republican lawmakers in November's election. Democrats currently hold a 12 to 3 majority in the Legislature. All three candidates won.
Republican Kevin Hardwick of Tonawanda, a Canisius College political science professor, won the Independence Party primary over incumbent Democrat Michele Ianello.
Former TV reporter Lynn Dixon, another Collins-backed Republican, won her Independence Party race against another incumbent legislator, Hamburg Democrat Robert Reynolds.
Democratic legislator Thomas Loughran and Republican Shelly Schratz faced off in an Independence Party primary in Amherst, with Schratz coming out on top.