Local Contests and Property Taxes Top Concerns for Voters            

 

            Damp weather and an overcast sky didn't deter many area voters from going to the polls on Tuesday.  Several contested elections throughout the region piqued voter interest and kept most area voting locations crowded and busy throughout the day.  Many voters stood in line for more than an hour to cast their ballots.

            The ballot question asking whether taxing authorities should be able to exempt residents from paying property taxes on their primary residences appears to have passed with 955,405 Pennsylvania voters approving the question and 818,325 voting no.

            Montgomery County voters, however, rejected the ballot question with 77,002 voting no and 51,756 voting yes.  Bucks County voters also rejected it, with 49,265 voting no and 40,523 voting yes.

            Berks County voters trended with statewide voters, with 39,545 voting yes and 11,699 voting no.

            However, change will not happen immediately.  The referendum, which allows legislators to pass a law that would permit taxing authorities to exempt residents from paying any tax on their primary residences, would require that replacement revenue sources are found – something that would require more state legislation.

            The results of some local contested area races are:

 

Upper Perkiomen School District

            In a heated race for four, four-year seats on the Upper Perkiomen School Board, Melanie Cunningham (cross-filed) was the top vote getter with 3,556, followed by Republicans James Glackin (2,729), Kerry Drake (2,724) and Stephen Cunningham (2,679).  They were followed by Democrats Judy Maginnis (2,260), Will Pike (2,247), and Jon Warren (2,144).  There were 1,183 write-in votes.  An active write-in campaign was run by incumbent John Gehman, but the official results won't be known until the ballots are verified.

 

Quakertown Community School District

            Democrat Kaylyn Mitchell (1,050) and Democrat/Green Party candidate David Ochmanowicz (1,279) won four-year seats in Region 01 on the Quakertown Community School Board besting Republican Paul Stepanoff (1,073).

            Region 3 saw Keith Micucci (1,209) topping Republican Charles Schermer (836) for a two-year seat on the board.

 

Boyertown School District

            In Region 1 of the Boyertown Area School District, cross-filed Ruth Dierolf (2,031) and Republican Robert Caso (1,554) held off a challenge by Democrat Rodney Boyer (1,505) for two seats on the board.

            In Region 2 Republican Dana Knowlten (712) topped Democrat Jill Dennin (620) for a four-year seat on the board.  For Region 3 Democrat Brandon Foose (2,133) beat out Republican Roger Updegrove (402) to capture a seat on the board.

                                                                  

Montgomery County

            Marueen Coggins was cross-filed for Magisterial District Judge in 38-2-02 and garnered 4,314 votes. Incumbent Judge Cathy Humml Fried ran on an active write-in campaign, however final results will not be known until after county officials validate those ballots.

            It was a Republican sweep for four, four-year seats on East Greenville Borough Council.  Lon Brinckman II (283) topped all candidates followed by James Raftery (280), Angie Fegely (276) and Joseph Rock (255). 

            Republican Eric Grubb (262) was the winner for the two-year term on council topping Republican Jennifer Moran (217).  Democrat Diane Criddle (300) unseated Republican Aricia Sloyer (254) to become the borough's new tax collector. 

            Of East Greenville's 1,690 voters, 34.38 percent (581) cast ballots in this year's election.

            In Pennsburg it was a Republican sweep as well, as incumbents Michael Mensch (337), Diane Stevens (314), Cody Belmont (297) and Frederick Shutte (281) will all be returning to borough council for another four years.  They were challenged on the Democratic side by Charles Shagg (250) and Wayne Stevens (236).

            Republican Mayor Vicki Lightcap (357) fought off a challenge from Democrat Seth Howard (223) to retain her position.

            Of Pennsburg's 1,922 voters, 622 (32.36 percent) cast a ballot.

            Republican Red Hill Mayor David Schiffgens (279) held off a challenge from Democrat Coleen Dunlap (253) to retain his position.  Thirty-eight percent (574) of Red Hill's 1,510 voters turned out for this year's election.

            In Marlborough Township, William Hurst gathered 404 votes against an active write-in campaign by Jim Miani.  Final results will not be known until after county officials validate the write-in ballots.

            In the race for a two-year term as Douglass Township (MontCo) Supervisor Republican Joshua Stouch (1,058) won over Democrat incumbent John Stasik (911).

            Of 6,563 voters, 2,165 (33.18 percent) cast a ballot.

            New Hanover Township saw William Snook, running on the Democratic and Republican tickets, received the most votes (2,093) for a four-year term on the board of supervisors.  Taking the second open seat was Democrat Mary Livelsberger (1,370), besting Republican Shawn Malloy (974).

            Lower Frederick Township's race for a single seat on the board of supervisors had Democrat Carla Hexter (670) topping Republican Ron Kerwood (438).

 

 

Bucks County

            In Milford Township, Republican incumbent Robert Mansfield (1,165) retained his seat by besting Democratic challenger David Gross (771).  

            In the race for three open seats on Quakertown Borough Council, Democrat David Wilsey topped all vote getters (741), followed by Republican Donald Rosenberger (699) and Democrat Mae Wear (689) besting Republican Jann Paulovitz (663) and Jon Roth Jr. (663).

            The race for mayor of Trumbauersville saw Republican incumbent Melissa Baine (131) win out over Democrat Wesley Comes (88).

 

Berks County

            The race for Washington Township Supervisors had Republican Tomas Powanda (466) topping Democrat incumbent Ernest Gehman (407).

            All results are unofficial until certified by county officials.