City of Tonawanda Councilman Rick Davis has secured his spot on the November ballot, beating out Jay Ralph for the Democratic nomination in the city’s mayoral race.

Davis waited out the results of the race at the Eldridge Bicycle Club, and while he was confident he would pull out a victory, that didn’t make the waiting any easier. But after waiting for nearly two hours for numbers to filter in among a rotating crowd of approximately two dozen supporters, Davis received news of his 467 to 216 win.

But while he was enjoying the feeling of clearing his first hurdle in the race to the mayor’s chair, Davis couldn’t help but look ahead to what tomorrow would bring for all those Ralph signs gracing city lawns.

“They’ll turn into Ron Pilozzi signs without a doubt, but I can’t change that,” Davis said.

Ralph, who ran his race in opposition to the party’s endorsed candidate, said he hadn’t been watching the results and didn’t know anything about the numbers coming in until being told by the Tonawanda News.

“I really don’t have anything to say. You win some, you lose some. That’s all I have to say. Good luck to the man,” Ralph said.

But Davis didn’t carry the day in all his primary battles. Republican Mayor Ron Pilozzi carried the Independence primary with 49 votes to Davis’ 35. Although with such a low turnout, Davis said it’s possible that he’ll still pull it out come Sept. 25, when the November ballots are finalized.

“There are a lot of absentee ballots, so we just have to wait for those to come in and see what shakes out,” Davis said.

Pilozzi said he’s always worried by what such a low turnout says about how the city is serving its residents, but still felt good about the win.

“I think from past experience we’re in pretty good shape on the Independence line,” Pilozzi said. “The real question marks are on the Conservative and Working Families lines.”

Those other lines are in question despite the fact that Davis was the only candidate endorsed in the Conservative and Working Families party races. Pilozzi said he worked hard to organize a write-in campaign in an effort to get his name on those lines, so only time will tell whose name appears where. While Pilozzi’s name is guaranteed to appear on the ballot, he said it helps to have as many lines as possible in election day strategy.

“There’s a lot of people who may not want to vote for a Republican, but they’ll vote for you on the Conservative, Working Family or Independence lines,” Pilozzi said.

Still, Tuesday night did ultimately decide that only two names will be factors in the city mayor’s race this year.

In other primary news:

City of Tonawanda

Bill Poole beat out Steven Sommers for the Fourth Ward Democratic nomination 55 percent to 45 percent. Third Ward Councilman Jim Kossow lost his Democratic primary to Richard Slisz 97 to 71, but won the Independence primary against Slisz 12 to 10. First Ward Councilwoman Colleen Perkins lost her Independence primary against Charles Gilbert 20 to 11.

Town of Tonawanda

Republican Highway Superintendent Brad Rowles won his Independence primary to protect his job against Councilman Dan Crangle 157 to 117. In the three-seat Independence primary for Town Board, Democratic Councilwoman Lisa Chimera garnered 186 votes, Republican challenger Jim McGee received 160 and Democratic Councilman Joe Emminger received 146. The fourth candidate, Democratic Councilman John Bargnesi, lost the primary with 125 votes.

Erie County

In the race for the Independence line for 10th District Erie County Legislator, Republican challenger Kevin Hardwick beat out Democratic incumbent Michele Iannello 175 to 103. In the 14th District, Republican challenger Shelly Schratz defeated Democratic incumbent Thomas Loughran 100 to 84.

Contact reporter Daniel Pye at 693-1000, ext. 158.