SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — In the election on November 7, voters in Sullivan County will have an opportunity to vote in 86 different elections. In 55 of those elections, the outcomes are for the most part predetermined, because that’s how many candidates are running unopposed.

In county-wide elections, Sheriff Mike Schiff and District Attorney Jim Farrell are each running unopposed.

The race for a State Supreme Court Justice is one of 26 races that are contested. Candidate Julian Schreibman, running on the Democratic and Working Families line, who ran for the congressional seat then held by Chris Gibson in 2012, is in the race. He has served as an attorney for the CIA, a federal prosecutor and a senior assistant district attorney in Ulster County.

Schreibman’s opponent, Peter Crummey, running on the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines, has served as the justice for the Town of Colonie for 17 years. According to his website, the Colonie Town Justice Court is one of the busiest in the state, handling approximately 25,000 cases per year.

The county-wide vote for county treasurer is also contested. Republican Nancy Buck is the current treasurer. She started as a deputy county treasurer in 2000, and was appointed to the office of treasurer when Ira Cohen passed away in 2014. She was elected to the office in 2015.

The website of Buck’s opponent, Democrat David Komatz, says that he has 45 years of experience as an accountant and degrees in accounting, forensic accounting and a graduate certificate in criminal justice.

Many of the races for town supervisor are unopposed this year, including those in the towns of Bethel, Callicoon, Cochecton, Callicoon, Delaware, Fallsburg, Forestburgh, Fremont, Highland, Mamakating and Neversink.

In the Town of Liberty, former Town Justice Brian Rourk is running on the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines against former assistant highway superintendent John Lennon, Jr. who is running on the People’s Party line. Lennon lost to Rourk in the Republican primary by a vote of 244 to 69.

In the Town of Lumberland, the current supervisor, Jenny Mellon, running on the Republican and Conservative lines, is being challenged by Deanna Rajsz, on the Democratic and For the People lines. Deanna is the daughter of former supervisor and current county legislator Nadia Rajsz.

In the Town of Rockland, the current supervisor, Robert Eggleton, is running on the Democratic, Conservative and Independence lines, while his opponent, Dale Dutcher, is running on the Rockland First line.

Constitutional Convention

The issue getting the most attention state-wide this year is the question of whether or not voters want to convene a constitutional convention, something that has not occurred since 1967. Opponents, which include the state Conservative Party and teachers unions among others, say that it would be an opportunity for the wealthy and powerful to roll back organizing and pension rights. Proponents, which include the League of Woman Voters and the New York State Bar Association, argue that in the nine constitutional conventions held since the state was formed, voters have never approved of amendments that would diminish rights once they have been established.

Another referendum question deals with whether elected officials and some appointed officials should lose their state pensions if the official in question is convicted of a felony.

A third referendum question would allow municipalities to acquire small amounts of forest preserve land to address various situations such as bridge hazards or safety issues on town and county highways.

The referendum questions will appear on the reverse side of the ballot.