2019 primary election: Borough voters to elect mayors, council members
Democratic voters in Bowmanstown, Jim Thorpe and Summit Hill and Republicans in Palmerton have choices to make in their primary election balloting for nominations for borough council seats in those municipalities.
There are only five races — two in Summit Hill and one each in Bowmanstown, Jim Thorpe and Palmerton — to be decided among the 12 boroughs in the county.
Here’s what voters in county boroughs will see on their municipal ballots on May 21:
Beaver Meadows
The voters in Beaver Meadows will elect a mayor for a two-year term and four council members for four-year terms this year.
No one is running for mayor, and there are only three candidates for the council seats. All Democrats, they include Alfred J. Mitcho Jr., Anthony A. Rusnock and Martha Steber.
Bowmanstown
There is a contested race in Bowmanstown this time around.
It is between Republicans William Ravert and Joseph Rodrigues Jr. who are running for the two-year term on council to be filled by the voters. There is no Democratic candidate for the position.
Republican Zachary Snyder is running unopposed on both ballots for the two-year term as mayor.
The voters will also elect three people to four-year terms on the council. Seeking the positions are Democrat Kara Scott and Republicans Pamela J. Leiby, William Ravert and Norman A. Engle Jr. They will face each other in November, when all but one of them will win positions.
East Side
The East Side Borough voters will elect three people to four-year terms on the borough council, and one person to serve the board for two years.
For the four-year terms, the candidates are Democrats Rudolph C. Schoch, Helen Stockinger and John P. Marotta and Republican John Ciepel. The foursome will face each other in November for three positions.
There are no candidates in the borough for the two-year term on council.
Jim Thorpe
There are four people seeking three nominations for four-year terms on borough council in Jim Thorpe. One of them will lose out. The candidates are Michael J. Yeastedt, Robert C. Schaninger, Jay T. Miller and Kyle J. Sheckler. The top three will run off with Republican John McGuire in November for the three positions.
Lansford
There are no contests in Lansford in the primary, but there will be one in November. Voters are expected to elect a mayor for a two-year term and four people to serve on the council for four-year terms.
Republican Michele Bartek is the lone candidate filed for mayor.
For the council positions, the candidates are Democrats Mary Soberick and Lou Labosky and Republicans Martin S. Ditsky, Bruce Markovich, John M. Turcmanovich and William Chuma. The six candidates will aspire to win the four seats in the general election.
Lehighton
Four people are running for four four-year terms on the Lehighton Borough Council.
Unopposed within their respective parties are Democrats Grant R. Hunsicker and William Rodweller and Republicans Lisa Perry and Darryl W. Arner.
Nesquehoning
There is a shortage of candidates in Nesquehoning. The voters are scheduled to elect four people to four-year terms on the borough council, but there are only three candidates.
They are Democrat Frank Jacobs and Republicans George Sabol and Michael J. Radocha.
Palmerton
Republican voters in Palmerton will decide a GOP nomination for a two-year term on borough council this time around.
The race is between Republicans Michael J. Ballard and Andrew J. Hollywood. There is no Democratic candidate.
There are no races for three four-year terms on the council that will be decided, but there will be a contest in November.
Democrats Donald F. Heiney, Holly F. Hausman Sell and Randolph Gursky and Republicans Terry Costenbader, Joseph Slovick and Hollywood are unopposed in the primary. The six candidates will square off against each other in the General Election.
Parryville
Parryville voters are supposed to elect two people to serve four-year terms on borough council.
There are no candidates on either ballot in the town.
Summit Hill
There are two Democratic nomination races to be decided in the primary election in Summit Hill, where the voters will elect four people to four-year terms on the borough council, as well as a fifth person who will serve a two-year term.
For the four-year term, there are six Democratic candidates, including David A. Wargo, Michael Kokinda II, Gregory V. Kosciolek, Joe “Kossie” Kosalko, Karen Ruzicka and Sara Ruch. There are no GOP candidates.
Kokinda, Ruzicka, Ruch, Wargo and Kosciolek are all running for the one nomination available for the two-year term on the board.
Weatherly
The voters in Weatherly have no choices this time around. They are scheduled to elect a mayor for a four-year term and two council members for four-year terms.
For mayor, the lone candidate is Republican Paul J. Hadzick.
Seeking the two council seats are Democrat Joseph A. Thomas and Republicans Joseph M. Cyburt and George E. Miller Jr. The three will square off against each other in November.
Weissport
Weissport voters will only see two candidates’ names on the borough’s municipal ballot.
They are slated to elect two people to four-year terms on the borough council, and the only candidates are Arland F. Moyer Sr. and Linda Schoenberger.
