Crimson Tide Hits Pottsville: Republicans Sweep City Race

It was a clean sweep for the Republicans in Pottsville last night and starting in 2026, the balance of power at City Hall will shift for the first time in about three decades.

Tom Smith defeated Andy Wollyung in the race to become the next Mayor of Pottsville. Smith garnered 58% of the vote to Wollyung’s 42%.

And in the race for two seats on City Council, Jon Marsh and Scott Price toppled Tom Wood and Mike Weres.

The sweep means Republicans will have three voting seats on council starting in 2026. In Pottsville, unlike boroughs, the Mayor has a vote.

“I want to thank the city of Pottsville for realizing they’re ready for a change and a positive improvement,” Smith said Tuesday night at The Chopping Block.

The Republicans held a watch party there, a business co-owned by Marsh.

Though defeated in Tuesday’s election, Wollyung retains a seat on City Council and Weres remains City Controller for two more years.

Marsh was the top vote getter in Tuesday’s race. He picked up 1,736 votes. Price finished second with 1,704. Wood was third with 1,552 and Weres picked up 1,308 votes.

Price said both campaigns had a “good run” in the run up to Tuesday’s vote. He credited the Republicans’ organization and its having a plan of action for the victory.

“Our opponents, they ran a great campaign. They were all very formidable,” he said. “I wish Tom Wood the best of luck and we’re very excited to work with Andy and Dorothy (Botto). We want to come together and do what’s right for the city.”

In a post on his Facebook account, Wollyung said, “The results are in, and while it’s not the outcome our ticket had hoped for, I couldn’t be prouder of the campaign we ran. We kept our heads held high, stayed true to our values, and pushed through every challenge that came our way.”

Pottsville Election Results – 2025 Municipal Election

Pottsville – Mayor (1 seat, 4 years)	Votes	Winner
🟥 Tom Smith	1935	⭐
🟦 Andy Wollyung	1393
📝 Write-in	7

Pottsville – City Council (2 seats, 4 years)	Votes	Winner
🟥 Jon Marsh	1736	⭐
🟥 Scott Price	1704	⭐
🟦 Thomas Wood	1552
🟦 Mike Weres	1308
📝 Write-in	8

GOP Credits Ground Game for Big Election Victory in Pottsville

The victors in Tuesday’s Pottsville election were very visible both physically on the campaign trail and online.

The campaign credits the sweep on Tuesday to that strong ground game on the campaign trail.

The candidates used meet-and-greet sessions with voters to unveil their plans if they got elected. And they also spent days going door-to-door in the city to drum up support for their campaign.

“It’s nice to see that our message was effective,” Marsh said. “We were able to reach who we wanted to reach and let them know that there was a better way and that we can provide it. I think that resonated with a lot of people.”

Marsh said the candidates and their surrogates knocked on nearly 4,000 doors in Pottsville to connect with voters.

“Scott Price was instrumental in knocking on doors and getting us out there,” Smith said.

The mayor-elect also credited campaign manager Missy Santai with setting up a number of meet-and-greet events at Pottsville businesses along the way.

Price, however, said Tuesday’s victory isn’t about the campaign. Instead, it’s about Pottsville.

“The election is not about us winning. I think the city won the election,” he said. “This election is for the city. They voted for change and they’re going to get change.”

Republicans’ Message Resonates with Voters

Smith credited the campaign’s 90-day plan they promised voters they’d implement if they were to get elected. That plan includes him pursuing state and federal funding, which the campaign was critical of the current and past administrations for not pursuing. It also has Marsh recruiting people to serve on any number of the city’s boards and authorities and holding them accountable, and Price examining the efficiency of the city’s operations.

“We have a solid plan we’re going to follow through with, we have the people in place to make it happen, and it’s going to be immediate,” Smith said.

Marsh, as a downtown business owner, believes the business community rallying behind the Republican campaign helped. And one of his goals is to make Pottsville more business-friendly, something he says it’s not right now.

“When you have a local business, you all know each other. We all know what you go through to create what you have,” he said. “In Pottsville, it’s just a little too difficult right now to do business. We need to remove those barriers to business and make it easier.”

By the Numbers

En route to the victory, Smith defeated Wollyung in every city precinct. Price was the winner among council candidates in 5 of the 11 precincts. Marsh was top in 4 and Wood finished first in 3 precincts.

Here’s a look at how the votes broke down in each race by precinct:

Mayor’s Race by Precinct

#	Precinct	Votes	Wollyung	Smith	Write-in
141	Pottsville 1st	136	40	96	0
144	Pottsville 2nd	276	125	150	1
146	Pottsville 3-2	142	64	77	1
147	Pottsville 3-1	311	102	209	0
148	Pottsville 3-3	213	73	139	1
150	Pottsville 4th	318	136	181	1
153	Pottsville 5-1	192	87	105	0
155	Pottsville 5-2	311	113	198	0
157	Pottsville 6th	290	112	178	0
159	Pottsville 7-1	587	265	319	3
161	Pottsville 7-2	559	276	283	0

Council Race by Precinct

	Precinct	Votes	Wood	Weres	Price	Marsh	Write-in
	Pottsville 1	245	40	34	89	82	0
	Pottsville 2	516	139	124	129	123	1
	Pottsville 3-2	273	67	61	68	76	1
	Pottsville 3-1	610	118	98	187	207	0
	Pottsville 3-3	415	85	73	127	127	3
	Pottsville 4	587	143	122	165	157	0
	Pottsville 5-1	357	87	80	96	94	0
	Pottsville 5-2	583	130	102	174	176	1
	Pottsville 6	540	112	105	165	158	0
	Pottsville 7-1	1116	303	262	273	276	2
	Pottsville 7-2	1066	328	247	231	260	0

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