The future political landscape of McKean County will be in the
balance during the primary election May 15.
The race for county commissioner will highlight a packed ticket
of municipal contests, which also includes a battle for mayor in
the City of Bradford, along with numerous council, school board and
supervisor seats across the county, according to information
provided by Director of Elections Judy Ordiway.
Officials said the first day to circulate and file nomination
petitions is Feb. 13. The number of open races was tentative as of
Thursday, according to Ordiway, who said some of the races still
need to be certified with the individual municipalities.
The current reincarnation of The New Directions Team will be up
for election, sans Commissioner Bruce Burdick, who has already
announced he will not be seeking re-election this year.
Slated for the ticket are current commissioners John Egbert and
Clifford Lane – both original members of the team – along with
newcomer Richard Danielson of Mount Jewett. Danielson is not a
political novice; he has served before on Mount Jewett Borough
Council.
Burdick became a member of the commissioners board after Tom
Causer resigned in May of 2005.
A band of names have already surfaced to run against the trio,
including former commissioners Al Pingie and Larry Stratton.
Meanwhile, another high-ranking county seat will be up for grabs
– district attorney.
If he seeks re-election, District Attorney John Pavlock will vie
for a second term in office. During Pavlock’s tenure, the nature of
the position has changed from part-time to full-time status.
Also in the county, Coroner Mike Cahill will be up for
re-election. Cahill took over the reins of the post four years ago
following the retirement of his father, Frank. Meanwhile, the row
office positions of Recorder of Deeds Anne Bosworth and Register of
Wills Harrijane Hannon will also be in play.
Elsewhere, residents in the City of Bradford will be charged
with electing a mayor, two councilmen and a city treasurer.
The race for mayor is expected to be one of the hottest. The
seat is currently held by incumbent Michele Corignani.
Meanwhile, the city council seats of Dan Costello and Ross
Neidich will also be up for grabs.
Neidich was appointed to council last May when former councilman
Tom Shay resigned to take a job with the city. Neidich had served
as a councilman before after being appointed in January of 2005 to
fill a vacancy on the board. However, Neidich was defeated later
that year in the general election by current Councilman Bob
Onuffer.
According to Ordiway, if he chooses to run, Neidich’s seat will
be for a two-year term. Shay’s seat was not up for re-election
again until 2009. Costello’s seat holds a four-year term.
The treasurer position is currently held by Jody Lama, who took
over the role following the retirement of long-time treasurer Helen
DeFrank.
A total of 100 signatures on nomination petitions are needed to
appear on the ballot in the city, with 10 signatures needed for
township seats.
Five seats will be available on the Bradford Area School Board,
with directors Tim Bean, Keith Hatch, Paul Ridley and Richard Roupe
up for re-election, along with Don Keck, who was appointed by the
school board to fill the former seat of Bob Tingley, who resigned
early last year.
According to Ordiway, Tingley’s seat expires this year, thus
prompting the individual that holds the seat to run for
election.
In the townships, two seats will be open in Bradford Township,
including those of supervisors Tom Vickery and Don Cummins, who was
appointed after the resignation of Cary Frigo from the board.
Cummins’ seat holds a two-year term, while Vickery’s is for four
years, Ordiway said.
In neighboring Foster Township, Ordiway said Supervisor Robert
Slike Jr.’s seat will be up for re-election.
Meanwhile, in Lewis Run, two council seats will be up for grabs;
one supervisor seat apiece will be available in both Corydon and
Lafayette townships.
All the other townships in the county will also elect one
supervisor, with the exception of Keating Township, which has two
supervisor seats up for grabs. Meanwhile, races for council seats
are slated for Eldred, Kane, Mount Jewett, Port Allegany and
Smethport boroughs.
In addition to Bradford, the Kane, Otto-Eldred, Port Allegany
and Smethport school districts will be electing directors.
According to the election calendar, the last day to circulate
and file nomination petitions is March 6, with the first day to
circulate and file nomination papers on March 7. The last day to
withdraw from the election by candidates who filed nomination
petitions is March 21.
Also, the last day to register to vote in the primary election
is April 16, with the last day to apply for a civilian absentee
ballot on May 8.
