While it was a resounding victory for Republicans in Pottsville, races for borough councils and township supervisors across Schuylkill County were much closer.
In fact, some races were decided by less than a handful of votes and in some cases, write-ins will decide who gets into office.
These results prove that every vote truly matters in a local election.
Here’s a look at who won, who came up short, and where races are undecided based on the unofficial final election results from Schuylkill County Election Bureau.
Democrats Squeak By in Saint Clair
Richard Tomko, a Republican, was re-elected Mayor of Saint Clair by a significant margin over Democrat challenger David Linkchorst. But in the council race, the vote was much closer.
In fact, the final update from the Election Bureau – presumably when mail-in ballots were added to the tallies – completely flipped the results.
In the end, Democrats swept the three available spots on Tuesday night.
Michael Petrozino led all night and got the most votes, 424. But fellow Democrats Tony Klazas Sr. and Judith Stednitz-Julian, both incumbents, were trailing until the final update came in and garnered enough votes to take the second and third seats, respsectively.
Tom Kelly finished 42 votes behind Stednitz-Julian (367-325) with Blake Herndon (306) and Vaughn Vesay (303) coming in fifth and sixth.
Incumbent Democrat Takes Top Spot in Shenandoah, Two Others Ousted
Voters in Shenandoah got behind incumbent Democrat Michael Whitecavage in his re-election bid for council. He swept to the top of the results following that last update from the Election Bureau.
However, his fellow Democrat running mates – including incumbents James Burke and Katie Catizone – finished out of the running.
Republicans Diane Korenda, an incumbent councilwoman, finished in a tie for second with outgoing Mayor Andrew Szczyglak, and Ace Wychulis took the fourth spot available.
In the race for Shenandoah Mayor, Republican Bob Cook defeated Democrat Leo Pietkiewicz by a narrow margin, 314-297.
Purple Minersville
In Minersville, Republicans and Democrats each took two of the four seats available. Three incumbents were re-elected, two of whom were appointed to council seats in the last two years.
Justin Frantz, a Republican, got the most votes with 428, while Democrat Amelia Hopkins finished just 7 votes behind him. Both were appointments to council seeking their first election.
Republican Bernard Lescavage finished third, just 3 votes behind Hopkins and incumbent Democrat Jamie Kuehn took the fourth seat.
Just 12 votes separated first from fourth in Minersville.
No Sweep in Ashland
Republicans had a good night in Ashland but it wasn’t quite a sweep.
GOP candidate Adam Bernodin Jr. was the clear winner in the race for four council seats. He finished 92 votes ahead of Democrat John Reilly, who was the only member of that party to earn a seat on council last night.
Republican Francis Menne finished third and it appears Charles Schmoltze will finish fourth. However, he finished just 17 votes ahead of fellow GOP hopeful Julie Pohl and there are 25 write-in votes to add to these totals. While unlikely to change the outcome, it would be premature of The Canary to project a fourth winner in that race right now.
In the race for Ashland Mayor, Republican Lorenda Kutz topped Democrat Antimo Brooklyn Esposito, 279-220.
Foster’s Photo Finish
One of the closest races in all of Schuylkill County occurred in Foster Township. Voter numbers are low, so all races are likely going to be close. But Republican Rich Zula squeaked out a victory over Democrat Robert Halupa by just 4 votes, 77-73.
There were no write-in votes cast in Tuesday’s election.
Close Call in Frackville
It appears three incumbents will hang on to seats on Frackville council. However, newcome John Matern earned the most votes on Tuesday.
Matern picked up 657 votes to get one of the four seats available. Incumbents Ed Beneshunas and Steve Kuzio got two more seats. And it appears Stephen Tertel will get the fourth seat.
Tertel currently has 11 more votes than challenger Tylor Blackwell (536-525) but there were 24 write-in votes cast so a statistical possibility exists that that seat could change, though it’s unlikely.
110 Write-in Votes?
There were two candidates on the ballot yesterday for Gilberton Mayor. But there were nearly four times as many write-in votes cast in that race than the top vote getter got.
Democrat Lloyd George has a 30-24 lead over Republican Edward Martofel. But with 110 write-in votes cast, it’s impossible to declare a winner until those votes are tabulated.
Split Vote in Mahanoy City
A Republican and a Democrat split the two seats available on Mahanoy City Borough Council on Tuesday.
Incumbent Democrat Thomas McCabe received the most votes, with 301 picking him. He was followed by newcomer Republican Thomas Flamini, who got 260.
Incumbent Republican John Hruniuk was defeated in his re-election bid, finishing third, 27 votes behind Flamini, while Democrat Heather Hoover was a distant fourth.
GOP Sweeps Orwigsburg Race
Republicans enjoyed a big night in Orwigsburg on Tuesday. All GOP candidates on the ballot secured the four four-year seats available.
Angie Hoptak-Solga finished first with 480 votes. Edward Keyworth III, Richard Bubeck, and Ed Winkelbauer rounded out the top four.
Democrat Bill Knecht finished 46 votes out of the running for the four-year seat and was 106 votes shy of Republican Bob Carl for the single two-year seat available on Tuesday.
Ellie Seigfried, another Democrat, finished sixth in the race for the four-year seats.
A No-Party Party?
There was one candidate on all ballots across Schuylkill County that appeared with no party affiliation.
William Luckenbill appeared on the ballots in Schuylkill Haven for both the two-year and four-year seats available. And he won both, according to the unofficial final results.
He was unopposed in a bid for the two-year seat but also finished second in the race for three four-year seats.
Republican Jesse Kavanaugh finished first in the bid for the four-year seats. Democrat John Williams was third.
Republicans Win Other Contested Races
Overall, as expected based on voter registration data, Republicans did enjoy another great night at the polls in Schuylkill County. But it wasn’t the case everywhere.
To see how voters chose candidates in places like New Castle Township, Tamaqua, Tremont, Pine Grove Township, and Union Township, check out our full Election Results page or our page of the top Contested Races Results page.
Image: Canva
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