ELECTION 2025: Write-ins set up, or decide, races across region

SHENANDOAH – If the unofficial write-in results released by the county stand, there will be several contested local races in November, while others are all-but decided.

Wednesday, the Schuylkill County Election Bureau released the results including write-in votes cast in the May 20 primary.

In Shenandoah, the primary set the stage for mayoral and council contests in November.

No candidate was on the ballot for the Democratic nomination for Mayor, and only three candidates were on the ballot for four seats on council.

Via a write-in campaign, Leo Pietkiewicz has likely won the Democratic nomination, narrowly defeating Bob Cook. Cook was on the ballot for the Republican nomination, which he handily won with 180 votes. Pietkiewicz was the top vote-getter in the Democratic race with 58 votes to Cook’s 47.

For the remaining Democratic nomination on council, incumbent Katie Catizone was the top vote-getter of the write-in candidates. Catizone was on the ballot as a Republican.

Catizone had 44 votes, ahead of fellow ballot Republican Diane Korenda with 38 votes.

If the results are certified, Shenandoah will have one of the most crowded council races in the county in November with eight candidates seeking four seats.

On the Democratic side, James Burke, Michael Whitecavage, and Michelle Gulden earned nominations on the ballot along with Catizone’s write-in nomination.

On the Republican side, Adolph Wychulis, Jacob Alinsky, Korenda, and Andrew Szczyglak are the presumptive nominees.

Frackville

Another contested council race come November is in Frackville.

Five will seek four open seats on borough council in the Mountain City.

The Republican ticket was decided via ballot candidates, while no candidates were on the ballot on the Democratic side, thus it was decided by write-ins.

Incumbent Stephen Tertel was the top vote-getter on the Democratic side with 39 votes, followed by Tylor Blackwell with 34, John Matern with 29, and Ed Beneshunas with 27. Steve Kuzio was the first candidate outside the top four.

Blackwell, Matern, and Beneshunas were in the top four on the Republican side along with Kuzio.

The mayoral race was likely decided in the Primary, as John Morgan won both the Republican and Democratic contests over incumbent Mayor Kim Phillips.

On the Democratic side, John Morgan received 89 write-in votes ahead of Phillips’ 24.

Girardville

Incumbent Girardville Mayor Michael Zangari received both party’s nominations via write-ins, according to the county results.

On the Democratic side, Zangari had 20 votes and on the Republican side, he had 22 votes.

For Borough Council, two four year seats are open as well as a one year seat, and only one candidate was on the ballot for either party.

Sarah Purcell and David Willis were the top vote-getters for the Republican nominations for the four year seats with 68 and 42 write-in votes respectively. Daniel Heiser trailed with 36 votes.

Heiser was the top vote-getter for the Republican nomination for the two-year seat with 39 votes.

On the Democratic side, David Willis was the only ballot candidate for the four-year seat, receiving 93 votes. Sarah Purcell was the top write-in candidate with 49 votes.

Heiser received 36 write-in votes for the Democratic nomination for the two-year seat.

East Union Township

The race for East Union Township Supervisor may be settled, narrowly.

Kyle Mummey narrowly defeated Stefan Gerneth for the Democratic nomination for township supervisor, 28 votes to 24 votes. Mummey handily defeated Gerneth for the Republican nod.

Petitions can be filed for a recount within five days of the results being released.

Gilberton

There will likely be a contest for Mayor of Gilberton.

Lloyd George won the Democratic nomination with 23 votes. He was on the ballot while Edward J. Martofel received 12 write-in votes in the contest.

However, Martofel was the top vote-getter on the Republican side with 16 votes, enough to receive the nomination.

No write-in candidates received enough votes for a council nomination.

New Castle Township

There will be a contest for a six-year seat on the New Castle Township Board of Supervisors.

David Long Sr. had 16 write-in votes for the Republican nomination and will likely face Karen Geiger, who was on the Democratic ballot and won that contest with 23 votes.

Mahanoy Area School District

There were two ballot candidates — both incumbents — for four seats on the Mahanoy Area School District, and two other incumbents will round out the field.

John Honus and Karen Yedsena were the top two write-in vote-getters for both parties.

They will join Steven Gnall and Jim Mitchell on the ballot in November.

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