Published: July 31, 2008 05:24 pm            

NIAGARA FALLS: Petitions invalidated in two out of seven districts

Ten seats on the City of Niagara Falls Democratic Party committee will be up for grabs this fall.

Niagara County Board of Elections Commissioner Nancy Smith said Thursday her office invalidated petitions in two out of seven districts where supporters of City Councilman Sam Fruscione are hoping to secure committee seats.

Smith said the petitions that were dismissed did not have the required number of valid signatures. As a result, a total of 10 committee seats in five districts will be contested this fall.

The race for the committee positions will feature a slate of candidates backed by Fruscione and a group that favors Mayor Paul Dyster.

Fruscione, his campaign manager, former state Assembly candidate Gary Parenti, and several of their family members and friends, filed petitions to run as committee candidates. Their petitions were challenged by supporters of Dyster. In one district, the challenge was filed by Dyster’s father, Dr. Melvin Dyster. In others, Dyster’s wife, Rebecca, notarized the challenges.

        

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