Election Coverage
Onondaga County Elects Its First Female Surrogate
By: Erik Elken
Contributor
Contributor
It has been 20 years since Onondaga County has seen someone other than Judge Peter Wells at the helm of the Court Surrogate. That run is now over. Who is to take Wells’ place? Ava Shapero Raphael. She not only becomes the first Court Surrogate in 20 years but also the first woman ever to hold the elected position.
“It feels wonderful,” Raphael said. “We’ve never had a female Surrogate in Onondaga County, but I think the time has come and it’s very nice.”
Raphael, who ran on the Republican, Independence and Conservative party lines, defeated Democrat Steven Paquette late Tuesday evening. She finished with 53 percent of the vote to Paquette’s 47 percent.
“It feels wonderful,” Raphael said. “We’ve never had a female Surrogate in Onondaga County, but I think the time has come and it’s very nice.”
Raphael, who ran on the Republican, Independence and Conservative party lines, defeated Democrat Steven Paquette late Tuesday evening. She finished with 53 percent of the vote to Paquette’s 47 percent.
“I’m excited and I owe it to my voters. It was a true grass roots effort. We’ve been out shaking hands and going door to door,” Raphael said.
Raphael has been Wells’ chief clerk for 16 years. Now she takes over for Wells as he was forced into retirement. Wells was unable to seek another term because he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.
The Onondaga County Court Surrogate is responsible for handling wills, estates and property of deceased persons. It also handles cases involving adoption and guardianships.
Raphael’s victory came as one of the few bright spots for the Republicans. GOP candidate for the 25th Congressional District, Dale Sweetland, headlined a disappointing night for the Republicans at the Double Tree Hotel in Syracuse. Sweetland lost to Democrat Dan Maffei by over 33,000 votes.
Raphael has been Wells’ chief clerk for 16 years. Now she takes over for Wells as he was forced into retirement. Wells was unable to seek another term because he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.
The Onondaga County Court Surrogate is responsible for handling wills, estates and property of deceased persons. It also handles cases involving adoption and guardianships.
Raphael’s victory came as one of the few bright spots for the Republicans. GOP candidate for the 25th Congressional District, Dale Sweetland, headlined a disappointing night for the Republicans at the Double Tree Hotel in Syracuse. Sweetland lost to Democrat Dan Maffei by over 33,000 votes.
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