Longtime Ulster County Legislator Ken Ronk Jr. easily won the Republican nomination for Shawangunk Supervisor over current Councilman Adrian “Binker” DeWitt in Tuesday’s primary.

     Ronk got over 76 percent of the vote, beating DeWitt 412-126.

     “I’m honored and humbled by the support of the Republicans in Shawangunk, the place I have called home my entire life,” Ronk said in an interview late Tuesday with the Wallkill Valley Times. “I look forward to carrying the Republican banner for my friends and neighbors in the November election carrying with me our shared vision to move Shawangunk forward for all of us!”

     DeWitt remained on the ballot even though he announced on May 21 that he was pulling out of the race because he felt he couldn’t devote enough time to the job due to his full-time job as a district supervisor for the Orange County Highway Department.

     But in an interview with the Wallkill Valley Times about two weeks before the primary, DeWitt said he had a change of heart and would accept the Supervisor’s job if elected.

      There has been no announced candidate on the Democratic side to replace retiring Supervisor John Valk, who will vacate the position at the end of 2023. The Democrats will hold their caucus July 8 at the Town Hall Community Room in Wallkill.

     The term for the Shawangunk Supervisor’s post is two years.

      Former Shawangunk Highway Superintendent and current Wallkill School Board President Joe LoCicero (337) won the GOP nomination for one of two seats up for grabs for the Shawangunk Town Board. In a battle of incumbents, Brian Amthor (304) beat Robert Miller (250) for the other spot. The Town Board term is four years.

     LoCicero, who ran with Ronk, said he was excited with the outcome.

     “I’m proud the Republicans in the Town of Shawangunk believe in me and want me to represent them on the Town Board,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the general election in November. I would be remiss if I didn’t first thank Bob Miller for all his service on the Town Board and congratulate Brian Amthor on his win. I’m looking forward to working with all the board members and with Ken (Ronk), who will be the first new Supervisor in the town in over 20 years when he’s elected in November.”

     If elected to the Town Board, LoCicero said he planned to fill out the remainder of his term on the Wallkill School Board, which goes until the end of 2025.

     Adrienne Gelfand-Perine, a Democrat, has announced she will run for the Shawangunk Town Board.

      Incumbent Marybeth Majestic (377) outdueled Tim Hunter (326) to earn the Democratic nomination for Supervisor of the Town of Gardiner.

      Majestic was opposed for the Democratic nomination for the first time since Lisa Lindsley challenged her in 2017.

     First elected on the Republican line in 2015, Majestic is seeking her fifth two-year term in office.

     Hunter, who works in the telecom industry and is a singer/songwriter, has been a leader in the opposition of constructing a second cell tower near his South Mountain Road residence.

     The Town Board approved the construction of the cell tower by a 4-1 vote in August 2022. Majestic voted for the tower to be built.