|
|
|
|
Primary Election features many local contests |
|
Written by Publisher
|
|
Monday, 18 May 2009 |
Photo by Ted Lutz
Judy Ordiway, director of elections for McKean County, tests a voter machine in preparation for Tuesday's primary election. Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday in all polling places in the state. Democrats and Republicans will be selecting nominees for positions which are up for election in the Nov. 3 general election. Many local positions are on the ballot.
By Ted Lutz
Republican Staff
The primary election Tuesday features several races for party nominations for local elected positions.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
In the major race in McKean County, three active candidates are seeking both the Republican and Democratic nominations for county judge.
The active candidates are Erik Ross, a Mt. Jewett resident who is affiliated with the Woods, Baker and Ross law firm in Kane; John Pavlock of Sergeant Township, the current county district attorney; and Christopher Hauser of Bradford Township, a former district judge.
Tony Alfieri, a Smethport attorney, also will appear on both the Democratic and Republican ballots for judge. However, he has stated that he no longer is interested in being considered for the position.
There are two other countywide races in McKean County, one for Republicans and one for Democrats.
Incumbent County Controller Thomas Ball of Smethport is seeking the Republican nomination and is challenged by Randall Turner of Bradford. The Democrats do not have a candidate for controller.
Patricia Starr of Liberty Township and Lois Easton of Annin Township are opponents in the race for the Democratic nomination for that party’s jury commissioner. Democratic Jury Commissioner Wanita Lane is not seeking re-election.
Betty Comes of Bradford Township is unopposed in her bid for the Republican nomination for the GOP jury commissioner.
County Sheriff Brad Mason, County Treasurer Nancy Evans and Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Bonnie Howard are seeking the Republican nomination for their offices. The Democrats do not have candidates for these posts.
Both Democrats and Republicans will be voting on candidates for the party nominations for state judicial positions.
Only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote Tuesday in the primary election.
In McKean County, there are 15,396 Republicans eligible to vote and 9,080 Democrats, according to Judy Ordiway, director of elections.
She reminds voters in Kane’s Second District that the polling place has been moved from Tabor Lutheran Church to the St. Callistus Church Hall. The Kane Fourth District also votes at the same church hall off Haines Street.
In Elk County, there are 11,250 Democrats eligible to vote Tuesday and 7,296 Republicans.
The general election is Nov. 3.
Here is a summary of the candidates for the local races:
Borough
Of Kane
Mayor-- Incumbent Doug Caldwell is seeking the Republican nomination. No one is listed on the ballot for the Democrats.
Councilmen (3)— Incumbents Jim Salvamoser, Dennis Drost and John Gentilman are seeking the Democratic nomination to run for re-election. No one is listed on the Republican ballot for council.
Tax Collector-- In the only Kane borough race on the ballot, incumbent Tax Collector Marianne Rook is being challenged by Anastasia Watts for the Democratic nomination. The Republicans do not have a candidate for the post.
Constable-- Richard Fergus is seeking the Republican nomination for the position, which has been vacant since the resignation of Dave McCord. The Democrats do not have a candidate on the ballot.
Judge of Election-- Kathryn Cledgett is seeking the Democratic nomination for the position in the First Ward (Kane Fire Hall). No one is listed on the Republican ballot. Tammy Hartzell is seeking the Democratic nomination for the position in the Second Ward (St. Callistus Church Hall). No one is listed on the Republican ballot. Bernice Anderson is seeking the Democratic nomination for the position in the Third Ward (Kane Fire Hall). No one is listed on the Republican ballot. Scarlett Royer is seeking the Democratic nomination for the position in the Fourth Ward (St. Callistus Church Hall). No one is listed on the Republican ballot.
Election Inspector (one for each party)-- Judith Ross is seeking the nomination for the Democratic position in the First Ward. Jami Hillman is seeking the nomination for the Republican position in the First Ward. Margaret Anderson is seeking the nomination for the Democratic position in the Second Ward. Edythe Gerhart is seeking the position for the Republican position in the Second Ward. Helen McKenna is seeking the nomination for the Democratic position in the Third Ward. Linda Caldwell is seeking the nomination for the Republican position in the Third Ward. Linnea Funari is seeking the nomination for the Democratic position in the Fourth Ward. George Barron is seeking the nomination for the Republican position in the Fourth Ward.
Kane School
Board (4)
There is a five-way race for four seats on the school board.
Four incumbents are seeking re-election and have filed nominating petitions both as Democrats and Republicans in all 10 polling places in the school district.
The incumbent candidates include: Stephanie Eckstrom (board president) of Mt. Jewett, Gary Ziegler of Kane and Larry Lamping and Ed Kocjancic Jr. of Wetmore Township.
They are challenged by Veronica English of Wetmore Township, who also has filed nominating petitions as both a Democrat and Republican in all polling places in the school district.
Wetmore
Township
Supervisor-- Jim Airgood and Bill Ryding are challenging Incumbent Dave “Chip” Peterson for the Republican nomination in the area’s only three-way race for one seat.
The Democrats do not have a candidate on the ballot.
Peterson is a farmer and represents the township on the Kane Borough Sewer Authority. Airgood is a school bus contractor and chairman of the township Planning Commission. Ryding is a retired science teacher at the Kane Middle School.
Tax Collector—Incumbent Roseann Albaugh is seeking the Republican nomination. The Democrats do not have a candidate on the ballot.
Judge of Election-- Helen Whiteman is seeking the Republican nomination. The Democrats do not have a candidate on the ballot.
Election Inspector (one for each party)-- Karen Ryding is seeking the nomination for the Republican position. Helen Mague is seeking the nomination for the Democratic post.
Borough of
Mt. Jewett
Mayor-- In the lone race in Mt. Jewett, Brett Morgan and Robin Leviere are seeking the Republican nomination for mayor. Tom Geer, the current mayor, is not seeking re-election.
Morgan is a borough councilman and operator of the borough water system. Leviere is a retired State Police trooper.
The Democrats do not have a candidate on the ballot.
Councilman (4)-- Incumbent Councilmen Brad “Chip” Lannen, Donald Martyna and Peter Crowley, all appointed, are seeking the Republican nomination to appear on the ballot for the first time in the general election in November. Paul Ewing, another incumbent, is not seeking re-election. The Democrats do not have a council candidate who is listed on the primary ballot.
Tax Collector-- Incumbent Darlene Kossack is seeking the Republican nomination. The Democrats do not have a candidate.
Judge of Election—Beth Carpenter is seeking the Republican nomination. The Democrats do not have a candidate.
Election Inspector (1 for each party)—Karly Peterson is seeking the nomination for the Republican position. Mary Beth Sharer is seeking the nomination for the Democratic position.
Hamilton
Township
Supervisor—Incumbent Nora Yasurek is seeking the Democratic nomination. The Republicans do not have a candidate on the ballot.
Tax Collector—Incumbent Claire Ann Depto is seeking the Republican nomination. The Democrats do not have a candidate on the ballot.
Judge of Election—Catherine Labrie, who died recently, remains on the ballot as the Republican candidate. The Democrats do not have a candidate on the ballot.
Election inspector (1 for each party)—Marjorie Walters, who also died recently, remains on the ballot as the nominee for the Republican position. Virginia Zeedar is seeking the nomination for the Democratic position.
Hamlin
Township
Supervisor—John Moffett is seeking the Republican nomination. Incumbent Supervisor Tom Kreiner is not seeking re-election. The Democrats do not have a candidate on the ballot.
Tax Collector—Incumbent Mary Kay Peters is seeking the Democratic nomination. The Republicans do not have a candidate on the ballot.
Judge of Election—Deborah Timblin is seeking the Democratic nomination for District 1 (Hamlin Township Fire Hall, Hazel Hurst). The Republicans do not have a candidate. June Morgan is seeking the Republican nomination for District 2 (Lantz Corner Getaway Lodging). The Democrats do not have a candidate.
Election inspector (1 for each party)—Kay Raught is seeking the nomination for the Republican position in District 1. Pam Melling is seeking the nomination for the Democratic position in District 1. Mary Morrison is seeking the nomination for the Republican position for District 2. Dorothy Danielson is seeking the nomination for the Democratic positions for District. 2.
Smethport School Board—In the only local race facing Hamlin Township voters, three township residents are seeking two seats on the Smethport School Board. The candidates include John Verolini, John Kriner and Jim Myers. Kriner and Myers have filed nominating petitions both as Republicans and Democrats. Verolini is only listed on the Republican ballot. The school board candidates also are listed on the ballot in Sergeant Township.
Highland
Township
Supervisor—Incumbent Supervisor Charlie Vaughn is seeking the Democratic nomination. Although he died April 1, James “Prof” Hulings remains on the ballot as a challenger for the Democratic nomination. Should Hulings win in the primary, the Elk County Democratic Committee will select a party nominee for supervisor, according to county Elections Director Kimberly Frey. In this case, Vaughn could not be considered as the Democratic nominee, Frey said.
Fred Gezik is unopposed in seeking the Republican nomination for supervisor.
Tax Collector—Incumbent Sam Moran is seeking the Republican nomination. The Democrats do not have a candidate on the ballot.
Judge of Election—Brenda Emer is seeking the Democratic nomination for the position at the James City polling place. The Republicans do not have a candidate. Ruth McClain is seeking the Democratic nomination for the position at the Highland polling place at the Snowseekers snowmobile club on Route 948. The Republicans do not have a candidate.
Election Inspector (1 for each party)—Mary Rotar is seeking the nomination for the Democratic position in James City. The Republicans do not have a candidate on the ballot. Jim Schmidt is opposing his wife, Martha Schmidt for the nomination for the Republican post in Highland. The Democrats do not have a candidate on the ballot. The Schmidts are hoping that one of them receives write-in votes as the Democratic election inspector in Highland.
Constable—Joseph Niklas of Sackett is staging a campaign as a write-in candidate for constable.
Lamont
(Jones Twp.)
Supervisor—C. Fred Swanson is seeking the Democratic nomination. The Republicans do not have a candidate.
Tax Collector—Joseph Haight is seeking the Democratic nomination. The Republicans do not have a candidate.
Auditor—Carl Johnson is seeking the Republican nomination for a six-year term. The Democrats do not have a candidate.
Sergeant
Township
Supervisor—Patricia Miller is seeking the Republican nomination for a six-year term. James Morgan is seeking the Democratic nomination for a six-year term. Ronald Himes is seeking the Democratic nomination for a two-year term. The Republicans do not have a candidate for the two-year term.
Tax Collector—Rosalie Bishop is seeking the Republican nomination. The Democrats do not have a candidate.
Auditor—Brenda Walker is seeking the Republican nomination for a four-year term. The Democrats do not have a candidate.
Judge of Election—Rose Aimonetti is seeking the Republican nomination. The Democrats do not have a candidate.
Election Inspector (1 for each party)—Lenora Kane is seeking the nomination for the Republican position. Maureen Radosevich is seeking the nomination for the Democratic position.
|
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 12 June 2009 )
|
|
|
|
