It apparently doesn’t pay to be an incumbent county commissioner
in the four-county region.
As a result of Tuesday’s primary election, along with
retirements and resignations, a total of seven current
commissioners in McKean, Potter, Elk and Cameron counties will not
be around come January – with the potential of five more, who are
in contested races in November’s general election, joining the
list.
That means it’s possible for a dozen new faces to fill the same
number of seats in each county’s highest elected position.
In McKean County, voters ousted two of the three members of the
most recent incarnation of The New Directions Team. The third
member faces a battle for the Democratic nod in November.
According to unofficial results, incumbent Republican
Commissioner John Egbert, along with new member Dick Danielson,
also a Republican, lost in their bid to appear on the ballot to
Port Allegany Mayor Joe DeMott and former commissioner Al
Pingie.
Danielson was never a sitting commissioner, but was pick by the
Team to fill the seat of outgoing Commissioner Bruce Burdick, who
announced earlier he wouldn’t be seeking re-election.
Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, incumbent Commissioner
Clifford Lane faces a challenge from Judy Church, who garnered the
most Democratic votes. There was a difference of 307 votes between
both candidates, according to unofficial tabulations.
Like elsewhere across the region, a slew of challengers ran
against the incumbents in the primary – a total of 11 candidates
ran in McKean County, 11 in Cameron County, seven in Elk County and
six in Potter County – in what some have considered the largest
mass turnout in years.
Looking at the unofficial tallies closer in McKean County,
DeMott – the apparent top vote-getter in the primary – not
surprisingly gained strong support from Port Allegany, where he
raked in 202 votes.
The county’s political base – Smethport – seemed to tell the
tale, however. There, DeMott grabbed the largest portion of his
votes, 257. Nearly the same held true for fellow GOP candidate
Pingie, who gained 144 votes in Smethport; only behind Bradford
Township’s second district, where he garnered 149 votes, according
to unofficial results.
By comparison, Egbert appears to have only captured 53 votes in
Smethport, and Danielson, 79. Egbert’s strongest showings came in
Bradford Township’s second district, with 147 votes, followed by
Foster Township’s third district with 124.
Danielson gained 104 votes in Wetmore Township, the highest
tally for him. In Smethport, Danielson netted 79 votes.
Meanwhile, Lane also had his strongest showing in Bradford
Township’s second district, earning 43 votes, followed by Annin
Township with 38 tallies. For Church, Wetmore Township with 73
marks and Kane Borough’s first ward with 48 were the high-water
marks.
Church also grabbed 73 votes in Smethport, her residence, while
Lane netted 19 votes there.
In the City of Bradford, DeMott received 218 votes; Pingie, 449;
Egbert, 347; Danielson, 288; Church, 145; and Lane, 93.
Elsewhere across the region, another commissioner race occurred
in neighboring Cameron County – which might not even have a board
of commissioners within a couple of years due to an effort to
consolidate the municipalities in the county into one
government.
Two men who won’t be in that position come January are current
commissioners Tony Moscato and Pat Rodgers, who both announced
earlier they will be stepping down. Only incumbent Commissioner
Glen Fiebig is still in the running for a seat, but faces a
challenge for the GOP nod from Joann Smith.
According to unofficial results, Smith gained 126 more votes
than Fiebig in the primary. On the Democratic side, Phillip Jones
and Thomas Callahan received the most votes, with 288 and 258
apiece.
Whoever wins will be faced not only with the consolidation
issue, but a growing millage rate.
Meanwhile, two incumbent Potter County commissioners were
defeated – Democrat Ken Wingo and Republican John Torok. Incumbent
Commissioner Cathy Bowers will face a contest in the fall on the
Democratic ticket by Susan Kefover.
According to unofficial results, Kefover gained 660 votes to
Bowers’ 502. On the Republican ticket will be Doug Morley and Paul
Heimel.
Potter County has taken a recent economic hit, with the
situation surrounding Time Warner’s departure from Coudersport.
Lastly, in Elk County, current Commissioner Christine Gavazzi
will be retiring, leaving at least one new face on the three-member
panel.
Looking to fill those seats are incumbents Democratic
Commissioner June Sorg and Republican Commissioner Dan Freeburg,
who will face challenges in the fall.
