Pietkiewicz concedes mayoral race to Cook; Whitecavage, Korenda win re-election

SHENANDOAH – Shenandoah’s mayoral race came down to less than 20 votes and it’s all but decided as one candidate has conceded.

Bob Cook held a narrow 314-297 lead over Leo Pietkiewicz as of the unofficial final update from the Schuylkill County Election Bureau.

Pietkiewicz, a Democrat and former council president, conceded late Tuesday night.

“Congrats Bob on your win today, I wish you the best of luck leading the Shenandoah Police Department,” Pietkiewicz said in a Facebook post. “It’s a proud force, with excellent officers and chief.

“The borough residents have voted and made their choice so make them proud of your victory and our police force,” Pietkiewicz continued. “The Shenandoah Police Department is not a political pawn, it’s a service to protect and serve. So I ask, don’t get mixed up in the political parts of the borough, and lead the department with one thing in mind: PROTECT AND SERVE.”

Cook, a Republican spent much of Tuesday campaigning at the Polish American firehouse in Shenandoah, wearing a red shirt reading “Make Shenandoah Great Again.”

Three other Republicans were elected to council along with Cook.

Diane Korenda, an incumbent, current Mayor Andrew Szczyglak, and Adolph ‘Ace’ Wychulis all earned seats on council along with Michael Whitecavage, a Democrat who was the top vote-getter as of the last update from the county.

Whitecavage had 322 votes, followed by Korenda with 313, Szczyglak with 313, and Wychulis with 301.

“The residents of Shenandoah have entrusted us with a mandate to continue correcting the long-standing issues that have impacted our town for decades, and we are grateful for your support and confidence,” the Republicans said in a joint statement. “The voters made it clear they want a more constructive, transparent, and results-driven direction for Shenandoah. We are committed to honoring that mandate and continuing to move our borough forward without obstruction.”

Whitecavage told the Sentinel he plans to continue trying to work together with the rest of council for the betterment of the community.

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Kaylee Lindenmuth

Kaylee Lindenmuth is a Shenandoah native with a passion for journalism and the community she calls home. She is a 12-time Keystone Media Award winner, a PAB Excellence in Broadcasting award winner, and has been nominated for a Mid-Atlantic Emmy award.

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