ELECTION 2025: Turnout steady as voters decide contested local municipal races
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Signs are set up outside the East End Field and Stream building, a Shenandoah polling place, on Nov. 4, 2025.
SHENANDOAH – Turnout was steady Tuesday as voters came out to decide numerous contested races in northern Schuylkill County, including one of the most contentious Shenandoah borough council races in recent memory.
Candidates for council and mayor in Shenandoah, and their friends, were set up at the various polling places in town for one last attempt to sway a vote.
Eight candidates are seeking four seats on borough council: incumbents Katie Catizone, James Burke, Diane Korenda, and Michael Whitecavage, and challengers Adolph ‘Ace’ Wychulis, Michelle Gulden, Andrew Szczyglak, and Jacob Alinsky.
Szczyglak, currently serving as mayor, planned to step back from borough government, leaving the office open. Bob Cook, a Republican, and Leo Pietkiewicz, a Democrat, are seeking the seat. Cook was on the primary election ballot and Pietkiewicz, a former council president, earned the Democratic nomination through a write-in campaign.
Borough Manager Mike Cadau, who has publicly voiced support for the Republican ticket of Wychulis, Korenda, Szczyglak, and Alinsky, told the Sentinel at the Polish American Fire Co. he hopes the town can “move forward” after this election.
The Polish American was a hub of campaign activity.
Catizone, a registered Republican who earned the last Democratic nomination to seek the seat and is aligned with the Democratic candidates, campaigned at the Polish American as well, holding a sign for the candidates.
Cook was also present, talking with voters while wearing a red shirt reading “Make Shenandoah Great Again.”
Council President Joe Boris was also campaigning for the Republicans at the Shenandoah High Rise. He said turnout there had been steady for an off-year election.
A similar report was given at the west end polling place at Malocu’s.
Out-of-town, contested races both on the ballot and via write-in campaigns will be decided.
In West Mahanoy Township, ex-Police Chief Marvin Livergood is staging a write-in campaign against Supervisors Chairman Paul ‘Pepper’ Martin.
Signs for Livergood have been popping up around the township and signs for both candidates were present outside the West Mahanoy Township Municipal Building in Shenandoah Heights.
In Gilberton, at least three candidates are seeking the office of Mayor — two on the ballot and at least one write-in candidate.
In Union Township, longtime Supervisor David Briggs is facing a challenge from Jordan Milewski. Both were present at the township building.
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – Union Township Supervisors candidates Dave Briggs, left, and Jordan Milewski, right, shake hands outside the Union Township Municipal Building on Nov. 4, 2025. 
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – Signs for both Union Township Supervisors candidates are seen outside the Union Township Municipal Building on Nov. 4, 2025.
“This is probably an example of proper political discourse,” Milewski said of the two campaigns.
“We get along,” Briggs said. “If I win, good. If he wins, good.”
Briggs said at least 270 voters turned out at the Union Township building, where parking was scarce when this reporter visited.
At North Union Township, Holly Teter is running against incumbent Bryan Flaim for a township supervisors seat. Teter’s husband was set up outside the municipal building in Nuremberg and expressed optimism that she, a Democrat, may win in what’s believed to be a Republican stronghold.
Elsewhere, contested races will be decided in Frackville, Ashland, New Castle Township, and the Hazleton Area School District.
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