Schuylkill election: School board races

In the five school districts in the Times News coverage area only two districts have races for positions on the board of education.

Following is a brief look at the five district school board races.

Tamaqua Area

There are four seats, four-year terms, up for the Tamaqua Area School District with four candidates on the ballot.

Thomas A. Rottet, Bryan Miller and Nicholas E. Boyle, got both party nominations in the spring with Mark Rother getting the Republican nod.

Panther Valley

The Panther Valley School District has four seats up for election, four-year terms, with four candidates getting both nominations in the spring almost assuring themselves of seats. The four are William Mansberry Jr., Christopher Kerestes, Irene Genther and Keith Krapf.

Coaldale residents in Schuylkill County vote for members of the Panther Valley school board.

Mahanoy Area

The Mahanoy Area School District has a race for a school board seat. With four seats up for election, four-year terms, there are five candidates. Three of the five are in the best position to win because they received both party nominations in the spring. They are Karen E. Yedsena, John Honus and Steven Gnall. The two vying for the fourth seat are Democrat Jay Hanley and Republican Jim Mitchell.

Blue Mountain

The Blue Mountain School District has four seats up for election and four candidates got both nominations in the spring and are almost assured of the four seats, four-year terms. They are Dean Gherghel, Anne Usuka, John A. Carestia and Herrman Robert Fligge.

Hazleton Area

The Hazleton Area School District has four seats, four-year terms, up for election with five candidates.

Three of the five got both party nominations and are almost assured of victory. They are Linda DeCosmo, Ed Shemansky and Bob Mehalick. The two candidate seeking the fourth seat are Democrat Robert W. Childs and Republican Alex C. Van Hoekelen.

Votes in McAdoo and Kline Township in Schuylkill County vote for Hazleton school board members.

There is a write-in spot on all ballots for those who want to challenge any candidate.