(5/17) Eight candidates will seek five open slots on the Fairfield Area School Board in November’s General Election. The large pool is the result of Republican voters supporting three write-in candidates over incumbents during May’s Primary Election.
Pennsylvania law permits school board candidates to cross-file. Incumbents Kelly Christiano, Lauren Kaye Clark, Jennifer Holz, Lashay Kalathas, and Lisa Sturges ran unopposed in May on both the Republican and Democratic ballots. All five succeeded in winning over Democrats but Republicans chose write-in candidates Erica Bollinger, James Fisher, and Melissa Kearchner over Christiano, Clark, and Kalathas. Sturges and Holz earned both parties’ nominations.
The Fairfield write-in victory may have been the biggest surprise in May’s Primary Election, which consisted mostly of uncontested races.
However, Liberty Township residents had a reason to show up at the polls beyond the call of civic duty. Johnny Gereny and Adams Sanders attempted to win the Republican nomination for supervisor over current Supervisor Walter "Mickey" Barlow. The incumbent ended up being the people’s choice, garnering 126 votes compared to Gereny’s 24 and Sanders’ 47. Democrats also supported Barlow with 14 writing in his name and securing him their party’s nomination.
A write-in candidate will add some competition to two Carroll Valley Borough Council races. Democrat Sarah Laird won her party’s nomination for both a two-year and four-year seat on the council. If Laird wins both, she will be required to reject one of the positions. Council will then be required to name her replacement.
However, that scenario is not certain since Laird will have competition in both races. Republican Catherine Schubring is also seeking the two-year seat. Republicans John Schubring, Bruce Carr, L. Michael Wight, and Cody Gilbert will join Laird in seeking four open four-year slots.
In Fairfield Borough, Republican Phyllis Gilbert and Democrats Sarah C. Thomas and Patricia Smith won their party’s nomination for four open seats on borough council. Since there are more seats than candidates, interested residents can request their party’s nomination.
Ryan Picarelli and Edward Spence are likely locked-in to win two seats on the Hamiltonban Township Board of Supervisors in November. No Democrats sought the chairs in May’s primary. A similar scenario exists in Freedom Township, where Democrat Paul Kellett is the only claimed candidate for a six-year seat on the board of supervisors.
At the county level, the only contested race to date in November’s General Election is for county commissioner. Republicans Jim Martin and Randy Phiel and Democrats Rob Smith and Marty Qually are vying for three open seats on the board.
Incumbent Republicans Prothonatary Beverly Boyd, Register and Recorder Karen Heflin, and District Attorney Brian Sinnett are running unopposed. Republican Francis Dutrow is running unopposed for coroner as is Republican controller hopeful Tammy Myers. Magisterial District Judge Mark Beauchat is also the lone person seeking his current seat.
According to unofficial county results, 26.03 percent of the county’s 18,809 registered Democrats voted in May’s Primary Election. Of the county’s 40,680 Republicans, 22.73 percent came to the polls.
