Bath town residents will have an opportunity in less than two weeks to select their next town justice, in a Republican Primary slated for Sept. 14.
Current Bath Town Justice James H. Burns is opposed by local realty owner Robert E. Deuel.
Deuel, 66, is a former newspaper general manager and publisher, and now owns Forrest H. Clark Realty. He has been on the Steuben County Youth Board for 20 years, and said his experience on the youth board is one reason he is running for the seat.
Burns, 64, was a part-time Steuben County assistant district attorney from 1993 to 2003. He has practiced law since 1990 and was elected in 2002 to fill the seat left
vacant by the death of Town Justice Jan Ketcham.
Burns graduated from Haverling Central School and Northwestern University before returning to Bath to help operate the family farm equipment business.
After three two-year terms on the Steuben County Legislature, Burns attended law school and worked for a Washington, D.C. law firm before returning to Bath in 1993.
Burns said his experience with the D.A.’s office, and eight years on the town bench makes him the best choice for the job.
Deuel is a U.S. Navy veteran and member of the Bath VFW and American Legion. A Bath resident for 20 years, he is active in the Bath Police Auxiliary, Bath Fire Police and Bath Fire Department.
Deuel is vice-president of the Elmira-Corning Board of Realtors and serves on the board’s judicial body, the professional standards board.
Deuel also is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks No. 1547.
Deuel said serving as a town justice is a way to give back to the community, which has been good to him. If elected, he will attend justice school, he said.
The Bath town race is one of four local primaries slated for Sept. 14.
Other local Republican contests are:
Town of Rathbone
Councilman (3-year
unexpired term)
Vicki L. Freeman
Roderick L. Brutsman
Town of Tuscarora
Justice
John R. Nichols
Marjory Miles
West Union
Highway Superintendent:
Douglas A. Vanhoven
Edward D. Lewis
STATE AND FEDERAL PRIMARIES
Republican
** Governor
Rick A. Lazio
Carl P. Paladino
** Lieutenant Governor
Gregory J. Edwards
Thomas V. Ognibene
** U.S. Senator (6-year term)
Gary Berntsen
Jay Townsend
** U.S. Senator (2-year term)
Joseph K. Dioguardi
David Malpass
Bruce Blakeman
** State Senator
James G. Bacalles
Thomas F. O’Mara
** State Assembly
Philip A. Palmesano
Steven Kula
Democrat
** Attorney General
Richard L. Brodsky
Eric T. Schneiderman
Sean Coffey
Eric R. Dinallo
Kathleen M. Rice
** U.S. Senator (2-year term)
Kirsten E. Gillibrand
Gail Goode
Conservative
** Governor
Rick A. Lazio
Ralph C. Lorigo
