Martinez Wins Cheektowaga Town Board Special Election

Why it matters

The result determines who holds a Cheektowaga Town Board seat that Democrats had filled through an August appointment of Parvez Rahman. The winner takes office in January, and the race followed questions about Nowicki's residency that prompted his resignation.

The details

Martinez, a Democrat, defeated Republican David DeFields Jr. in the special election to fill the Cheektowaga Town Board seat left open when Stephen Nowicki resigned in July. Nowicki's resignation followed questions about whether his primary residence had shifted from Cheektowaga to Buffalo's Elmwood Village.

Timeline

1. April: West Seneca Town Board member Jeffrey Piekarec resigned amid accusations he revealed confidential executive-session information.

2. July: Stephen Nowicki resigned from the Cheektowaga Town Board.

3. August: Democrats appointed Parvez Rahman to the Cheektowaga seat through the end of the year.

4. January: The winner of the special election takes office.

Political Context

The Cheektowaga vacancy arose from questions about where Stephen Nowicki lived, which raised the question of whether a town board member's primary residence must remain within the town. Two special elections in Erie County this cycle, including West Seneca's contest between John Rusinski and Jeffrey Quain, show local boards filling seats mid-term after resignations rather than through scheduled contests.

The takeaway

Local board seats can change hands quickly when residency or resignation issues arise, so checking where officials live and how vacancies are filled is useful for residents. Voters can track certified results once the Erie County Board of Elections finalizes them.

Further reading

For more on how local seats are filled between regular votes, see Elections coverage.