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PA GOP News Brief – Wednesday, November 9, 2011
November 9th, 2011

REPUBLIANS WIN BIG!

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RT @PAGOP Thank you to everyone who helped fuel BIG WINS for Republicans! The road to beat President Obama starts now #pa2012 #pagop

 

The Rundown

Wecht, Covey, win seats on Pa. appellate courts – ABC News

Anne Covey of New Hope, the first female appointee to the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, won a seat on the Commonwealth Court with 52 percent, defeating Democrat Kathryn Boockvar of Doylestown.

Covey’s husband and campaign manager, Mike Morris, said her victory showed that “our message resonated with the public.”

 

GOP Regains Cambria After Eight Years – Sandra Reabuck, Pittsburgh Tribune Democrat

Republicans Mark Wissinger and Douglas Lengenfelder captured two of the seats for Cambria County commissioner in a hard-fought campaign that saw two-term incumbent Democratic Commissioner Milan Gjurich lose his bid for a third term.

Thomas Chernisky, Gjurich’s running mate, won the third seat.

The Republicans take back control of the commissioners office after eight years of Democratic leadership by Gjurich and President Commissioner P.J. Stevens, who did not seek re-election.

GOP Commissioner Sam Valenty, who is serving an interim term, lost in the primary election.

In a county favoring Democrats by a nearly

2-to-1 registration edge, Wissinger was the top vote-getter in the four-way race with 28 percent.

Lengenfelder came in second (27 percent), with Chernisky coming in third (24 percent) and Gjurich trailing in the field (21 percent).

Wissinger, a Ferndale resident and retired schoolteacher, formerly served as a county commissioner for one term in the early 1990s.

He teamed up with Lengenfelder, a retired Air Force colonel who is a newcomer to politics.

They were at GOP headquarters in Richland Township when they learned of their victory.

“We had a consistent message,” Wissinger said. “Taxes was the big issue, and we also stressed economic development and transportation.”

He said he and Lengenfelder will work together in the coming weeks “to get fired up for January,” when they will take office.

Lengenfelder, a Richland Township resident, expressed appreciation to supporters, volunteers and voters.

“This was a team event,” he said. “Mark and I have been together from Day 1. We’re excited about the future. We think Cambria County has a great future, and we’re honored to be a part of it.”

 

GOP takes control of Schuylkill County Commissioners Board – Pottsville Republican Herald

In the Schuylkill County  races in Tuesday’s General Election 125 of 125 percincts are reporting.

In the Schuylkill County Board of Commissioners race, Republican incumbent Frank J. Staudenmeier led all vote-getters with 16,565 votes, followed by running mate Pottsville businessman George F. Halcovage (15,498) and  Democrats Schuylkill Haven Mayor Gary J. Hess (13,742)  and Pottsville businessman John Plachko  (12,034).

The three top vote-getters will win election to four-year terms.

 

GOP storms Westmoreland Courthouse – Rich Cholodofsky, Tribune Review

Republicans authored a historic shift in Westmoreland County government on Tuesday.

Charles Anderson and Tyler Courtney secured a majority on the board of commissioners for the first time since 1956.

It also appears that Republicans swept all five row offices, defeating four longtime incumbents, according to unofficial election results.

Two-term incumbent Controller Carmen Pedicone, potentially the last Democrat standing, lost by 262 votes to write-in candidate Jeff Balzer.

“We worked so hard for this. It’s just going to be a great victory. I am so happy, you don’t even know,” said Chairwoman Elaine Gowaty of the county Republican Committee. “I think the voters of Westmoreland have spoken in this election.”

Incumbent Anderson, 68, of Hempfield, and Courtney, 43, a Hempfield businessman, will take control of the three-person board of commissioners.

 

Susquehanna Republicans return to power, incumbent Wyoming Democrat ousted – Robert Baker and Staci Wilson, Times Tribune

In Susquehanna County, the Republicans appear to have returned to power in county commissioner as newcomer Alan Hall and incumbent Michael Giangreco led the field Tuesday night.

And incumbent Wyoming County Commissioner Stark Bartron, a Democrat, was ousted Tuesday night in a race that will see former Democratic commissioner Ron Williams return to power.

The Susquehanna County Commissioner Republican vote was split four years ago with a write-in candidacy, paving the way for Democrats Mary Ann Warren and Leon Allen to come to power.

This time around Mr. Allen was the low vote-getter by less than 125 votes and will not be returning to the office.

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