Low, but steady turnout for contested northern Schuylkill races
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Political signs dot the front yard of the Goodwill Fire Co. in Frackville on May 20, 2025.
SHENANDOAH – Candidates in several hotly-contested races reported a low but steady turnout at polling places in northern Schuylkill County for Tuesday’s primary election.
The Sentinel stopped by polling places in Frackville, Shenandoah, and Sheppton where Tuesday’s primary featured contested races for Mayor, Council, and Township Supervisors respectively.
In Shenandoah, five Republicans are seeking nominations for four seats on borough council.
Several of those candidates were staged at polling places across town.
Bob Cook, a candidate for the Republican nomination for Mayor, and Jacob Alinsky, a candidate for council, were at the Shenandoah High Rise, a new polling place for the 3rd precinct and a temporary location for the second. Council President Joe Boris, who is not up for re-election this term, was also there.
They all reported a steady, but low turnout at the High Rise.
“It’s a primary in an off-year election,” Cook said as the reason for the lower turnout.
Across town, the situation was similar at the East End Field and Stream, where Adolph “Ace” Wychulis was campaigning, also for a Republican nomination for council.
“These primaries are notorious for this,” he told the Sentinel, noting that at 5:30pm, around 35 people had voted on the east end.
Across town, Diane Korenda, a council incumbent seeking re-election, reported a “good turnout” at Malocu’s on West Washington Street, a new polling place for the northwest quadrant of town.
Korenda, Wychulis, Alinsky, Mayor Andrew Szczyglak, and incumbent Katie Catizone are all seeking the Republican nomination. According to leaflets distributed for the election, the former four are aligned and campaigning together.
Cook and Boris were optimistic about the contingent’s chances.
In Frackville, Republican Mayor Kim Phillips faced a primary challenge by way of John Morgan. The two mayoral candidates were at the Frackville Senior Citizens Center, which hosts two precincts in the borough, along with Tylor Blackwell, who is seeking a Republican nomination for council.
The candidates all reported a steady turnout there.
Across town, incumbent councilman Stephen Tertel and friends of Morgan were campaigning at the Good Will Fire Co.
Tertel said he is hopeful he will be re-elected.
Up in Sheppton, incumbent Supervisors Chairman Kyle Mummey faced a primary challenge from Stefan Gerneth, a longtime law enforcement forensics specialist.
The two were set up side-by-side outside the East Union Township Municipal Building, the only polling place in town.
Mummey said about 300 people had voted there by 6pm and Gerneth said the turnout had been steady.
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