Incumbents retain seats
Reynolds takes close race
The Erie County Board of Elections is reporting incumbents were victorious on Tuesday during Election Day 2006 in the congressional, state and assembly races that represent the Town of Amherst.
  
In the closely watched race for Congressional District 26 between incumbent Rep. Thomas Reynolds, Republican, Conservative, and Jack Davis, Democrat, Independence and Working Families; Reynolds has been named the victor.

The margin was close, split between Reynolds receiving   52 percent of the votes, 102,846,  to Davis's 95,449.

Reynolds, who was first sworn in to Congress in January 1999, will serve another two-year term.

The New York State Senate race for District 61 had incumbent Mary Lou Rath, Republican, Conservative, Independence, taking 66 percent of the votes with 50,090. Her challenger, Richard L. Woll, Democrat, received 26,127 votes.

Rath was first elected to the New York State Senate in November 1993 and was the first woman elected to the 61st Senate District.

In the race for New York State Assembly District 148 incumbent Jim P. Hayes, Republican, Conservative, defeated challenger Susan J. Grelick, Democrat, Working Families. Hayes received 25,040 votes (63 percent) and Grelick tallied 13,336  votes. These results do not include the Town of Pendleton.  

Hayes will serve his fifth term having been first elected to the Assembly in 1998.  
Town of Amherst Council Member Shelly Schratz was not successful in her run for Erie County Clerk. Incumbent David Swartz received 71 percent of the votes.

For more information on Election Day 2006 results visit www.erieboe.com.