Area municipal elections show few changes

                With nearly 33 percent of Montgomery County voters going to the polls, Democrats took control of all Montgomery County row offices in a sweep of Tuesday's election.

                Democratic Commissioners Josh Shapiro (96,901) and Val Arkoosh (88,528) easily retained their seats.  Republican Joseph Gale (65,457) topped fellow Republican Steve Tolbert, Jr. (62,354) for the minority seat on the three-member board.

                Attorney Sean Kilkenny topped incumbent Russell Bono in the race for sheriff, 83,290–76,363 and newcomer Michael Milbourne topped Phil Mandato, Jr. 81,531 –73,581 for coroner.  In the race for clerk of courts, incumbent Ann Thornburg Weiss won over Jason Showmaker, 86,880 – 67,792.  For prothonotary, incumbent Mark Levy held onto his position by besting challenger Bill Whiteside, 86,274 –69,353.

                Incumbent, three-term recorder of deeds Nancy Becker lost her post to Ambler Mayor Jeanne Sorg, 80,346–74,184.  In the race for controller, Karen Geld Sanchez topped Tom Zipfel (83,604– 70,406).  The race for treasurer saw incumbent Jason Salus defeating Chuck Wilson 84,099–70,045.

                For controller, incumbent Bruce Hanes easily topped Pottstown Mayor Sharon Thomas Valentine, 85,640-68,724 in a race that had the candidates on opposing sides of issuing licenses for same-sex marriages.

                In a race that gathered national attention in recent weeks, Kevin Steele topped current County Commissioner Bruce Castor, 89,763–72,604.  The race heated up over the last few weeks after Steele began running a TV ad criticizing the handling of a 2005 sexual misconduct allegation against entertainer Bill Cosby.  Castor, who was Montgomery County's District Attorney at the time, claimed there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute Cosby at the time. 

                  Area Municipal Races

                With voter turnout ranging from 24 percent to 31 percent in most area municipalities, voters went to the polls and, in most cases, made little change to the makeup of local governments and school boards.

                Incumbent Republicans Ben Fiorito and Gene Fried held off a challenge by Herb Butz for seats on the Upper Hanover Board of Supervisors.  All three candidates ran as Republicans in the May primary with Fiorito and Fried claiming the party nomination.  However, both Fiorito and Butz garnered enough write-in votes to run on the Democratic ticket in the general election.  In Tuesday's election, Fiorito garnered 752 votes on the Republican side and 396 on the Democratic slate to easily win re-election.  Fried netted 837 votes to Butz's 546.

                Milford Township had contested races for the position of township supervisor and auditor.  In the race for supervisor, Republican incumbent Thomas Courduff retained his seat, holding off a challenge from Democrat David Gross (1,073–594).  In the race for auditor, Republican Janet Bonekemper bested Democrat Marcus Brandt (1,034 – 603).

                In Marlborough Township the race for township supervisor and constable saw close races.  According to Montgomery County tallies, incumbent Democrat William Jacobs topped Republican challenger Barry Doremus, 393–320, for supervisor.  In the race for constable, Republican James Rembisz appears to have edged out Democrat Sylvester White by just 11 votes, 353–342.

                Douglass Township board of supervisors incumbent, Democrat John Stasik, lost his bid for re-election to Republican challenger Alan Keiser (1,061–608).  Stasik is currently serving as the board's chairman.

                The race for three council seats in East Greenville has incumbent Republican James Young retaining his seat after running a successful write-in campaign in May.  Young received 132 votes on the Democratic side and 195 Republican votes.  The other two seats were won by Republicans Marita Thomson (233) and Robert McCluskie (220).

                The Pennsburg Borough Council race saw recently retired Upper Perk Police Sgt. Foster (Bob) Seville win a seat by an overwhelming majority.  Republican Seville gained the party nomination in the May primary but also, through write-in votes, gained a spot on the Democratic slate on Tuesday.  Seville received 202 votes on the Republican side and 162 on the Democratic.  Retaining their seats on the council are Republicans Kristopher Kirkwood, who currently serves as council president (232), and Bruce Lord (222).

                Seven candidates vying for four seats on Quakertown Borough Council had all four Republican incumbents retaining their seats.  Michael Johnson (689), Douglas Propst (682), L. James Roberts (676) and Lisa Gaier (636) topped Democratic opponents John Wyatt (607), Mae Wear (582) and Kevin Wright (582).

Area School Board Races

                In the Upper Perkiomen School District, candidates Kimberly Baccari, Mike Elliott, Raeann Hofkin, John Farris and Joan Smith ran unopposed for five open seats.

                Five incumbent directors for the Souderton Area School Board ran unopposed.  They were Board President Scott Jelinski, Vice President Thomas Kwiatkowski, Donna Scheuren, Nicholas Braccio and Ken Keith.

                Running on the Democratic ticket for Region 2 of the Boyertown Area School District, Clay Breece top incumbent Barbara Hartford (1,386–1,128).  Running on both the Democrat and Republican side, incumbent Board President Stephen Elsier topped all candidates with 1,956 votes.

                In Region 1, incumbent Christine Neiman ran unopposed and, in Region 3, incumbent Donna Usavage and David Lewis also ran unopposed.

                The race for a four-year seat in Region 2 of the Quakertown Area School Board saw Republicans Jonathan Kern (1,081) and Austin Sedicum (943) best Democrats Diane Doyle (767) and Mark Seifter (657).  Incumbents Dwight Anderson (Region 1), Ronald Jackson (Region 3) and Steaven Klein (Region 3) all ran unopposed.

                All totals are unofficial until validated by county election officials.