The Republican candidate on the Bradford City mayoral ballot for
the November general election appears to be city Councilman Tom
Riel, according to unofficial numbers tabulated at The Era.

Riel appears to have garnered 535 votes, while fellow Councilman
Dan Costello received 399 tallies. Councilman Bob Onuffer was
unopposed on the Democratic ticket with 123 votes.

“I’m rather elated if the numbers I’m getting from all over town
and the courthouse are true,” Riel said late Tuesday. “Obviously
I’m happy that we won. I’d like to thank everyone for their
support.

“I want to thank Dan Costello for running a pretty clean
campaign,” Riel added. “I respect him for that.

“We still have to get through November,” he said. He will face
off against Onuffer in the general election.

Regarding his apparent victory in the primary, Riel said he
attributes it to a dissatisfaction with city government.

“I think its obvious people want change and the voters believe
I’m the person that can deliver the change,” Riel said. “The people
have spoken and they want change and now we’ve got to deliver
it.”

Costello also thanked his supporters “and everybody who believed
in me.”

He then expressed a measure of disbelief at Riel’s apparent
victory.

“It’s hard to believe,” Costello said. “Well, all I can say is
good luck to Bradford. Apparently they wanted a change and boy are
they going to get it.”

He declined to make any other comments.

Current Mayor Michele Corignani had announced earlier this year
that she did not intend to run for another term. Riel, Costello and
Onuffer all announced their intentions to seek the position.

Riel then challenged Costello’s nominating petitions in McKean
County Court, alleging that more than 60 signatures of the 142
collected were invalid. However, Judge John Cleland said Riel’s
challenge lacked specificity and denied his challenge.

Riel had also waged a campaign for mayor in 2003 against
Corignani and was unsuccessful.