NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – Unofficial results show that incumbent Paul Dyster has won the Democratic primary for mayor of Niagara Falls.
Absentee ballots were counted yesterday at the Niagara County Board of Elections. Dyster narrowly defeated City Councilman Glenn Choolokian 2,192 votes to 2,128 votes, a difference of just 64 votes.
Former Niagara Falls City Council Chairman John Accardo will be the Republican challenger in November’s general election.
Choolokian says while he might have lost the primary, voters showed they just aren’t happy with how Dyster has led the city.
“It is disappointing because knowing I’ve been her my whole life in three aspects, as a business person, as a person who worked in the system, and my family has been her my whole life,” Choolokian said. “So I know Niagara Falls now under Mayor Dyster’s leadership, it’s going to drive the good people out of Niagara Falls. And it’s sad.”
Choolokian said he will speak with his lawyer and his family this weekend and see if there’s anything to challenge.
“I commend him on a hard-fought campaign, but I find it unfortunate that he is unwilling to concede the race,” Dyster said in a statement. “He shouldn’t try to delay the start of the general election by refusing to accept the voters’ decision in the primary. As candidates, we don’t always the like the decision of the voters, but we have to accept it.”