Close Council Races Also in Local Boroughs
By Jonathan Weaver
Write-in votes in two local municipalities could make the difference for Borough governments.
At least one First Ward polling place in Ford City Borough displayed a contentious race after last night’s Primary.
A total of nearly-400 Democratic votes were cast, but more than half were for candidates besides Democratic Candidates Vicki Schaub and Marc Mantini or Republican Candidate Jason Warner.
Between the New Life Center and Klingensmith’s administrative office polling centers, Mantini received 102 Democratic votes to Schaub’s 93, and lone Republican candidate Jason Warner received 49 votes on the Republican ticket
But, other top Democratic ticket vote-getters at the Klingensmith’s location included 25 votes for former Councilman Raymond Klukan, 24 for Carolyn Fenyes, 19 for Republican Jason Warner and 18 for current Council Vice-President Jerry Miklos.
Warner was the lone candidate left on the Republican ticket after Andrew Rudosky withdrew from the race.
On the Republican ballots along Ford Street, Warner received 16 of the 56 votes, but 31 write-ins were cast – with Fenyus and Klukan tied with an additional eight votes, Miklos receiving an additional five votes and Mantini an additional four.
Write-in polling results were not available at the New Life Center gymnasium polling location early this morning.
There will be three First Ward seats open. Councilman Gene Banks withdrew his candidacy, and Miklos must run a write-in campaign since he is registered Independent.
As well as there being several write-in candidates in Ford City, write-in candidates filled Kittanning Borough ballot boxes last night.
In Kittanning Borough, current First Ward Councilwoman Betsy Wilt received at least 29 of the 32 total write-in votes at the Borough Building polling place Tuesday despite not running for re-election.
Wilt received votes from both Democratic and Republican voters, along with at least one vote for English rock vocalist Ozzy Osbourne.
In the second ward, Republican Candidate Chris Schiano received the majority of Republican votes because of being the only name on the ballot, but so did former Borough Councilman Gerald Shuster through three write-in votes.
Wilt also was written in on a Republican vote cast.
Current Democratic Councilwoman Kim Fox is already on the November ballot to represent Kittanning Borough’s Third Ward, and received nearly 30 write-in votes from Republican voters.
Current Democratic Councilman Wilbur Stitt will also appear on the November ballot after being the only official candidate, but former Council President Randy Cloak launched a write-in campaign and received a total of seven write-in votes – including from Republican voters.
Local News | jweaver May 20, 2015
By Larry, May 20, 2015 @ 4:42 PM
Now grant ya, I’m just a small town pizza lawyer. But I believe you can take Kathy, Jerry, Vicky and Bob and rap the inside 3′ of bacon and I know it is perfectly legal.
The borough manager has about 2 to 3 years left because Ray Klukan doesn’t like suck ups. Glad to see that people are wanting change. Mayor should just stick with being MAYOR or the meetings will be 3 to 4 hours long, no one can shut him up. Now I know that when I receive calls about things that I am no longer interested in, that is bad.
#1 Borough Manager, why pay a kid for something he can’t do? No experience and keeps wiping his face when he leaves Jerry’s house.Bill could handle it, by telling Lisa and it got done
#2 Kathy what are you going to do, without Jerry telling you? Jerry don’t like women, he treats his wife like crap, I know I seen it first hand. Larry said it.
#3 Vicky, what and who can you cry too, when Jerry is gone. You begged for that position. Loser, Larry said that too
#4 Abernathy, you are the one that turned your back on the Police. I was there when Ron Dillard asked for the key to the Police station and you threw a fit, people just ask the Council back then and they can tell you, but I heard you say you will get even, what did that mean, hire your friend to be Manager and screw things up.
The problem with Council is that I have the whole story on them, and nothing they can do.
Vote Ray, Carolyn and Jason on Council. Ray has a nice looking wife so he isn’t looking for some wrapped up bacon lady. Larry said that.
Oh, yeah, I will come back and no one can do a thing about it. Peace