NORWICH – Three candidates vying for the position of Chenango’s County, Family and Surrogate Court Judge will face off today in a primary for registered voters in the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties. Polls are open from noon to 9 p.m. (see page 3 for polling places).
Republicans Joseph McBride and Frank Revoir will appear on all three party lines in today’s primary, while Diane DiStefano, a Democrat, will appear on the Independence line only. Although each candidate appears to have a different strategy when it comes to the campaign, the outcome of today’s primary will certainly affect the ballot lineup in November. While the Independence line is up for grabs today, DiStefano will appear on the Democratic and Working Families party lines in the general election; the winner of the McBride-Revoir GOP battle will appear on the Republican and Conservative lines. McBride said in last week’s candidate forum held by The Evening Sun that he would cease campaign operations if he does not win support of the Republican Party today; Revoir has indicated he will run independently should his GOP nomination bid fail. McBride has the official endorsement of the Chenango County Republican Party headed into today’s vote, a move that was protested by Revoir. The Chenango County Board of Elections reported yesterday that more than 500 absentee ballots had been mailed out; 345 of which had been filled out and returned so far.
Revoir was the first to announce his candidacy for the 10-year post back in March, seeking the position held for the last dozen years by the Hon. W. Howard Sullivan, who will retire in January. “Following in the footsteps of such a well-respected and admired man will be no easy task,” said Revoir in his announcement. “I can only hope to earn the same level of respect and admiration as Judge Sullivan earned in his tenure.”
Born and raised in Chenango County, Revoir earned his degree from Albany Law School in 1991 and began his legal career as a law clerk in the very court over which he seeks to preside. For the past 16 years, he has served as a prosecutor with the Chenango County Attorney’s Office, and also serves as an attorney in criminal defense, estates and family court. He currently operates a law practice from an office on Elm Street in Norwich.
