Nedd Sparks defeats Paul Maroun in Tuesday's primary

by Dan McClelland

Tuesday's primary for the county's Republican Party saw an upset in legislative district No. 6 when newcomer and challenger, Nedd Sparks, soundly defeated incumbent and multi-term legislator, Paul Maroun.

Across the three towns that make up the district- one of two in southern Franklin County that comprise the towns of Tupper Lake, Santa Clara and recently added Brighton- Mr. Sparks received 248 votes and Mr. Maroun, 132. There were no write-in ballots cast.

According to Tracy Sparks, Republican Commissioner of Elections and Nedd's wife, the vote count was unofficial but included early voting ballots and the absentee ballots received by the county office by primary day. There may be a few absentee ballots still to come in as state election law allows seven days for boards of election to accept ballots, if envelopes were postmarked on or before primary day.

Under recent election law changes boards of elections must now count absentee ballots received by election day “ahead of time” so they are included in unofficial vote counts on the day of the vote, she noted.

She said two absentee ballots arrived Wednesday and Thursday.

In the Town of Tupper Lake Mr. Sparks garnered 235 Republican votes and the incumbent legislator received 81.

Although he was defeated in the GOP primary, Mr. Maroun's name will still appear on the November ballot in the race for county legislator on the Conservative Party line.

Mr. Sparks' name will also be listed on an independent “Integrity” line.

Nedd said last week he was “very overwhelmed by the support” he received.”

He said he attributed his victory to a lot of door to door campaigning and many telephone calls made in recent months, including the day before and the day of Tuesday's primary. He said his campaigning last Monday and Tuesday reminded many people of the primary and the need to get out and vote.

“I was very humbled by all the support I received and I appreciate all of it.”

Paul Maroun, who is also village mayor, has served as county legislator many terms over the past three dozen years since he succeeded Nedd's father, the late John Sparks in the late 1970s after his tragic death.

Mr. Maroun was not discouraged by the vote count Thursday among his fellow Republicans. “This is the same thing that happened in the mayor's race,” he said, pointing to his win at the general election despite losing the GOP nod to Businessman Eric Shaheen at the party caucus.

Last November he ran on an independent line tying Mr. Shaheen on election night and later winning on absentee ballots. This time he'll be running on a main party line with the county Conservative Party's endorsement.

In the mayor's race last time he received strong support from Democrats and independents in the village.

He called the GOP primary challenge by Mr. Sparks “a good campaign” by both candidates “with no hostilities.”

“These things happen in primaries when you have relatively low numbers compared with a general election” where there may be a 1,000 or so people voting here.

“-And when you have been in office as long as I have been, no matter what you do you are bound to make enemies.” He said he believes too the Republican Party right now in Tupper Lake “is a little unstable!”

He said he too knows he lost a number of friends and past supporters by some of the actions he had to take during the pandemic to keep people safe here.

“I'll be be campaigning hard in the weeks and months to come” before the fall election, “just like I did in the mayor's race last year.

In the race for the GOP nod for Franklin County Sheriff between Sheriff Kevin Mulverhill and challenger Jay Cook, the county vote count saw Mr. Cook as the clear winner with 1,124 votes. Sheriff Mulverhill received 780 votes from his fellow Republicans.

Among the Tupper Lake Republicans, however, Kevin Mulverhill was the favorite with 169 votes, while his challenger secured 133 votes.

In the primary races for governor and lieutenant governor in both parties the vote counts for Tupper Lake alone weren't available as of last week but will be in coming weeks when all votes are canvassed, according to the election commissioner.

In Franklin County, Democrats gave Congressman Tom Suozzi 163 votes while Governor Kathy Hochul was the overwhelming favorite among her party members with 676. New York City's elected public advocate, Jumaane Williams received 93.

For lieutenant governor, Governor Hochul's lieutenant governor Antonio Delgado received the most votes in this county for that post with 455. He replaced this year Governor Hochul's original pick for that post, Brian Benjamin, who was arrested in April on federal corruption charges and who subsequently left that post.

County Republicans in their primary for governor gave the statewide winner, Lee Zelson, the most votes, 685.

Rob Astorino, who had the most campaign signs around Tupper Lake in recent weeks, came in second among county voters with 530 votes. Andrew Giuliani landed 428 and Harry Wilson, 192.

The race for New York State Governor is now between Governor Hochul and Congressman Lee Zeldin, a staunch ally of former President Trump who was among the Republicans who voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

Mr. Zeldin overcame primary challenges from Mr. Astorino, former Westchester county executive, businessman Wilson and Mr. Giuliani, the son of former New York City mayor and attorney for Donald Trump.