School districts across Schuylkill County will be holding contested Primary Elections this May.
Let’s take a look at who’s running in each of the Democrat and Republican races for school board in 2023.
Blue Mountain School District
There are 5 seats up for grabs in the Blue Mountain School District in 2023. Both parties have 6 candidates appearing on the ballot. Some candidates have cross-filed under each party:
- Republican: Krista Strause, Michelle Vesay, Becky Wehr Miller, Timothy G. Grube, John T. Campomizzi Sr., Joshua L. Whaley
- Democrat: Krista Strause, Michelle Vesay, Becky Wehr Miller, Timothy G. Grube, Michael Zvalaren, Joshua L. Whaley
Mahanoy Area School District
There are 5 seats up for election in the Mahanoy Area School District. There are 5 candidates cross-filed in this race, virtually assuring themselves of a spot in the General Election in November.
- Cross-filed: Susan C. Scheeler, Michael Mistishen, Santino Napoli, Gary R. Gnall, Daniel Lynch
Minersville Area School District
Seven candidates have cross-filed for a seat on the Minersville Area school board. There are 5 nominations available. Here’s a look at the candidates:
- Cross-filed: Albert D. Marazas, James T. Croley II, Keith Adams, Kevin Wigoda, W. Alexander Kurtek, Michael J. Andruchek, James O’Brian Jr.
North Schuylkill School District
Each party has 4 nominations to award for a 4-year seat in the May Primary in the North Schuylkill School District. Several candidates have cross-filed for this race. Here’s a look at who’s running for school board in this election:
- Republican: James R. Samelko Jr., Philip Rapant Jr., Randy Lattis, Brian Keller, Raymond Reichwein, Roy C. Green, Mary Anne Woodward
- Democrat: James R. Samelko Jr., Philip Rapant Jr., Randy Lattis, Mary Anne Woodward, Michael C. Kiehl, Raymond Reichwein, Roy C. Green
North Schuylkill also has a single 2-year seat up for grabs in this year’s election. Here’s a look at who’s seeking their party’s nomination for that race:
- Republican: Philip Rapant Jr., Lori Jalonski, Raymond Reichwein, Roy C. Green, Michael C. Kiehl, Mary Anne Woodward
- Democrat: Philip Rapant Jr., Roy C. Green, Raymond Reichwein, Michael C. Kiehl, Mary Anne Woodward
Pine Grove Area School District
Voters in the Pine Grove Area School District elect their school board members by region. Regions 1, 2, and 3 have a seat available this year, as well as an At Large seat on the board.
There is no competition in each of the races. Here’s who’s running:
- Region 1: Genavieve Moyer (DEM)
- Region 2: Donald E. Brown Jr. (REP)
- Region 3: Lauren Potter (REP)
- At Large: J.T. Herber III (DEM/REP)
Pottsville Area School District
A total of 7 candidates have cross-filed for a school board seat at Pottsville Area School District. There are 5 nominations available from each party. Here’s a look at who’s running in these races:
- Cross-filed: Michael Cardamone, Rachael Schuettler Hobbs, Ashley DeWitt, Craig Shields, Jamie Gunoskey, Linda Wytovich, Kerry Ansbach
Saint Clair Area School District
There are 5 cross-filed candidates looking to fill 5 seats on the Saint Clair Area School Board. Here’s a look at who’s running:
- Cross-filed: Erin Troutman Murhon, Jennifer Fegley, Scott Clews, Erin E. Portland, Gerald G. Kuperavage
Schuylkill Haven Area School District
Schuylkill Haven Area School District has 5 seats up for grabs and there are 5 cross-filed candidates in this election:
- Cross-filed: Scott R. Jacoby, Eric Richard Felty, Crystal Dewald McGarry, Dion Fessler, Melissa Strauch
Shenandoah Valley School District
There are 5 candidates cross-filed for as many 4-year seats on the Shenandoah Valley school board. Here’s a look at who’s running:
- Cross-filed: Jodi Piekarsky, Loughlin, Daniel P. Salvadore, Joe Buchanan, Mike Donchak, Anita Monahan
There’s also a single 2-year seat on the board available. And there’s one candidate who has cross-filed for it:
- Cross-filed: Leslie Gilroy
Tamaqua Area School District
Tamaqua Area has 5 school board seats available in this year’s election. There are 7 candidates who will appear on the Republican Primary ballot in May. All but 1 of them has cross-filed and will appear on the Democrat ballot as well. Here’s who’s running:
- Republican: Bob Caputo, Jessica Tirpak, Samuel John Koch, Melanie I.S. Dillman, Larry A. Wittig, Thomas J. Bertasavage Jr., Daniel E. Schoener
- Democrat: Jessica Tirpak, Samuel John Koch, Melanie I.S. Dillman, Larry A. Wittig, Thomas J. Bertasavage Jr., Daniel E. Schoener
Tri-Valley, Williams Valley School Districts
There are currently no candidates running for election in either the Tri-Valley or Williams Valley school districts, at least not from the Republican or Democrat parties.
In Tri-Valley, there is 1 seat available in Region 1 and Region 2. There are 2 seats available in Region 3.
At Williams Valley, there’s 1 seat from Region 8 available but no candidate. A seat in Region 7 is available but candidates for it file a petition in Dauphin County.
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