Ousted by his own party, still on the ballot: inside Jefferson County’s three-way fight for power

Every seat on the Jefferson County Board of Legislators is on the Nov. 3 ballot, but voters in only three of the 15 districts have a choice to make. In Districts 3, 6 and 10, an incumbent legislator faces a challenger. The other 12 legislators are running unopposed, according to the county's official general election ballot list.

The three races cover a long stretch of the county, from Alexandria Bay and the St. Lawrence River towns in the north, through Carthage and the Fort Drum side of Le Ray, to the farm towns along the Lewis and Oswego county lines in the south. Each district holds about 7,700 people. The winners serve two-year terms covering 2027 and 2028.

Here is who is running, what each candidate has said about why, and how and where to vote before polls close at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Every race is also on the ClickNNY Election Guide, with results on election night.

District 3: a 24-year incumbent faces a Democratic challenger

District 3 takes in the towns of Alexandria and Orleans and part of Le Ray, including Alexandria Bay, Redwood, Plessis and LaFargeville. The county lists its population at 7,743.

Republican Philip N. Reed Sr. of Alexandria Bay has represented the district since he was first elected in 2002, according to his county district page. He serves on the Legislature's General Services and Finance and Rules committees and is seeking what 7 News described as his 25th year on the board. He ran unopposed in 2023 and 2025, according to county election results, so this is his first contested race in years.

Democrat Tommy L. Robinson II is challenging him. Robinson told 7 News that Alexandria, Orleans and part of Le Ray need a change.

Reed said he wants to continue the work he started. "We're going to continue to try and modernize Jefferson County, but the infrastructure really needs to be upfront and center while still providing services for the constituents," he told 7 News.

Robinson has made transparency the center of his campaign. "I want to help bring the power back more to the people and break up the 15-seat Republicans. There's no transparency in this county," he told 7 News. In a May interview with the Watertown Post, he called himself an independent-minded Democrat ("It should be about ideas, not a party") and talked about property taxes, including how fire district assessments stack up on homeowners, utility costs and National Grid, and concerns about large solar, wind and data center projects on farmland.

District 6: Wilna and the Fort Drum side of Le Ray

District 6 covers the town of Wilna, including Carthage, and part of Le Ray. The county lists its population at 7,740.

Republican Daniel R. McBride of Carthage was appointed to the vacant District 6 seat on June 2, 2015, according to his county district page, and has held it since. He serves on the Finance and Rules and General Services committees. Like Reed, he had no opponent in 2023 or 2025.

Heather McGregor is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines. Her campaign's public Facebook profile says she lives in Carthage and works as an administrative assistant at North Country Family Medicine. The Jefferson County Democratic Committee introduced her as its District 6 candidate at the Carthage Patriotic Parade in July.

McGregor is running on social services. "I just really want to help and serve my community. I'm all for affordable housing, reasonably priced health care," she told 7 News.

7 News said it reached out to McBride but did not hear back. ClickNNY has also asked McBride and McGregor for comment and will add their responses.

District 10: a rematch after the June primary

District 10 is the southern corner of the county: the towns of Adams, Lorraine, Rodman and Worth and part of Hounsfield. The county lists its population at 7,675. It is the only one of the three races where the incumbent lost his party's line.

Christopher S. Boulio of Rodman first won the seat in 2023, unseating incumbent Jeremiah J. Maxon in a Republican primary and then holding off Maxon's write-in campaign in November, according to county results. He took office in 2024 and serves on the General Services and Health and Human Services committees. In June he lost the Republican primary to Spike Decker, so the two meet again in November with Decker on the Republican line and Boulio on the Conservative line, according to the county's ballot list.

Decker says decades running county buildings taught him how county government works. "The county has, I think, 32 departments. And I want to be that vehicle that connects them to my district," he told 7 News. Before the primary he said, "I love this county. I told ya previously, I poured my heart out for this county, and I'm not ready to quit."

Boulio points to 33 years in county government and his military experience, and to work preparing south Jefferson for growth tied to Micron's planned semiconductor plant near Syracuse. "We're looking forward to getting grants. Grants that can secure land, that can develop sewer and water and make shovel-ready development areas in south Jeff for Micron and its suppliers," he told 7 News. In March he also cited his work on rural transportation, including bus service to Watertown from the Adams, Carthage, Thousand Islands and Indian River areas. Jefferson County Public Transit launched in July, with its southern route's main stop in Adams.

Both men said before the primary that the county holds sizable savings, and that they would support a property tax cut if the opportunity came, 7 News reported.

The other 12 seats

Twelve legislators have no opponent on the ballot, all on the Republican line. Every winner in 2025 ran on the Republican line, so the board has no Democratic members. The unopposed incumbents are Robert W. Cantwell III (District 1), Board Chairman William W. Johnson (District 2), Tina M. Bartlett-Bearup (District 4), Michael A. Montigelli (District 5), Karen J. Freeman (District 7), James A. Nabywaniec (District 8), Vice Chairman Patrick R. Jareo (District 9), Robert D. Ferris (District 11), Frances A. Calarco (District 12), Steel E. Potter (District 13), Corey Y. Grant (District 14) and Anthony J. Doldo (District 15).

Whoever wins will help set the county's budgets for 2027 and 2028. The tentative 2027 budget is about $364 million, with the tax rate dipping from $5.58 to $5.56 per $1,000 of assessed value while the total levy rises about 6%, 7 News reported this week. County Administrator Ryan Piche said 94% of county property taxes go to state and federal mandates, and the plan trims capital and road and bridge work.

You can find your district on the county's legislator list.

How and where to vote

Early voting runs through Sunday, Nov. 1. Any registered Jefferson County voter can vote early at either of the two early voting centers, no matter where they live in the county, according to the county's early voting page. On Election Day you must vote at your assigned polling place. The ClickNNY Election Guide has every race on your ballot, and live results after polls close.

Questions voters ask

Which Jefferson County Legislature races are contested in 2026?

Three of the 15: District 3 (Philip N. Reed Sr. vs. Tommy L. Robinson II), District 6 (Daniel R. McBride vs. Heather McGregor) and District 10 (Christopher S. Boulio vs. Spike Decker). The other 12 legislators are unopposed.

Which towns are in Districts 3, 6 and 10?

District 3 is Alexandria, Orleans and part of Le Ray. District 6 is Wilna and part of Le Ray. District 10 is Adams, Lorraine, Rodman, Worth and part of Hounsfield. Le Ray and Hounsfield voters should check their district with the Board of Elections, because those towns are split.

Why is the District 10 incumbent on the Conservative line?

Spike Decker beat incumbent Christopher S. Boulio in the June 23 Republican primary, so Decker holds the Republican line. Boulio remains on the ballot on the Conservative line.

When and where can I vote early in Jefferson County?

Through Sunday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Jefferson County Office Building, 175 Arsenal St., Watertown, or the Depauville Fire Hall, 15231 School St. Any county voter can use either site.

What are the polling hours on Election Day?

Polls are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, at your assigned polling place.

Where can I see results on election night?

On the ClickNNY Election Guide at clicknny.com/elections, which updates after polls close at 9 p.m. ClickNNY reports a winner only after the AP or an official election authority calls the race.

How long is a Jefferson County legislator's term?

Two years. The winners on Nov. 3 serve in 2027 and 2028.