Farina, Barlet vie in Conservative primary

Warwick - It will only affect 321 voters in the town of Warwick but there is a primary race for town justice on Sept. 13. Incumbent Town of Warwick Justice Peter Barlet and Village of Warwick Justice Richard Farina are each looking for the Conservative Party nomination for the position of town justice this primary day. Both lawyers will be on the ballot in November no matter what the result is on primary election day. Barlet is the Republican nominee and Farina has the nod from the Democrats. Each wants his name to appear on the Conservative line as well. "I think the Conservative line is a very important line," said Barlet, who has been a justice in town for 16 years. "I've always been very proud to be a Conservative Party candidate." "Two years ago it was the Conservative Party that most supported me," said Farina. "I'd like to feel I have ties to the Conservative Party. When I ran two years ago, I got 880 votes as a conservative." Farina won the Conservative Party nomination in 2003 by just one vote over Republican Daniel Coleman. Coleman went on to win the three-way race that November. Farina was approached by the Democrats this year to challenge Barlet for his seat on the bench. The life-long Republican said yes, in part because he thinks party affiliation should not be an issue in local court politics. "In a race for a local court, political philosophy is not much of an issue," said Farina. "We're not faced with issues like abortion, gun control, same-sex marriage." Farina's career as a lawyer includes serving in the court system for more than 30 years, including over 25 certifying town and village judges. "I have experience as a judge, a teacher, and a law secretary in supreme and county court," said Farina. "I'm extremely well-qualified and well-respected." Barlet is the endorsed Conservative Party candidate. He has lived and worked as an attorney in Warwick since 1977 and he is philosophical about being challenged by Farina. "Everyone is entitled to challenge anyone for any office," said Barlet. "This is what politics is all about-giving voters a choice." With such a small number of voters eligible to vote in the primary, Town Clerk Karen Lavinski said the districts throughout the town will be consolidated into three polling places. They will be open on Tuesday, Sept. 13, from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. for the election. The Town Hall on Kings Highway, and the senior centers in both Florida and Greenwood Lake will serve as polling places. The Board of Elections in Goshen will notify registered Conservatives which location to use.