Election results
Nov. 9, 2005 Brownsville school board
BROWNSVILLE – Three incumbents and two challengers competed for four seats on the Brownsville Area School District’s Board of Directors in Tuesday’s election.
Incumbents Stella Broadwater and John Evans ran on the Democratic and Republican tickets, with incumbent Ellen Rohrer and challenger Ronald Dellarose Jr. on the Democratic ticket and challenger Jody Nepa on the Republican ticket.
Unofficial results showed that with 14 out of 16 precincts reporting, the winning candidates were Dellarose, who had the most votes with 1,342, followed by Broadwater, with 1,082 votes. Rohrer had 1,052 votes and Evans had 1,045 votes. Nepa trailed with 786 votes.
All the incumbents said they would keep looking out for the district’s best interest, while making decisions about finishing the high school/middle school renovation project and the future project of building a new elementary complex. Dellarose was unavailable for comment about what he plans to do while serving on the board.
Upper Tyrone supervisor
UPPER TYRONE TWP. – After serving the township for 13 years, Democratic supervisor Jack Fullem lost his bid for re-election Tuesday to newcomer Republican Bill Edwards.
With both voting precincts counted, the unofficial numbers show Edwards had the lead with 23 votes. Edwards’ numbers showed him at 199 unofficial votes while Fullem received 168 unofficial votes.
Edwards said he was “surprised” by the win.
“I spent some money and worked very hard on this election,” said Edwards. “I am ready to start my new duties the first of the year, but I will be hanging around the township building until then learning all that I can about the township.”
Edwards, 64, of Montgomery Road said he decided to run for the 6-year supervisor’s spot because he believes that the township is becoming stagnant.
“I have a lot of experience in business operations and I’ve been involved in budgeting and finance for a number of years,” said Edwards.
Fullem, 62, said he has served proudly for 13 years and has always been dedicated to making sure that the township residents were well cared for and that the township showed continual growth.
“I don’t know why I lost,” said Fullem, “but I congratulated Bill on his win. I plan to stick around and continue to work for the township until they don’t need me anymore.”
Fullem said he has enjoyed working for the people of the township and said he hopes that the supervisors continue to stay on task.
“Chuck Cook, Sam Killinger and I have a good working relationship with the people of this township,” said Fullem, “and I hope that that relationship continues. I did my best but there is a lot more to be done.”
Edwards, a retired Kiski Area School District maintenance department worker and former veteran, said a number of important decisions need to be addressed including financially helping the Everson Volunteer Fire Company.
Redstone supervisor
REDSTONE TWP. – Two businessmen went head to head in Tuesday’s race for Redstone Township Supervisor, with George Matis the apparent winner in the race.
Unofficial Fayette County election results show Matis with 725 votes to Tom Zimmerlink’s 145 votes, with all six precincts reporting.
Matis said Tuesday was just the beginning of his work for the next six years.
“I want to make Redstone Township a better place to live for everybody through police protection, more community involvement and public safety. I’m really into public safety. I wouldn’t be a fireman if I wasn’t,” Matis said.
Zimmerlink could not be reached for comment.
Both men had promised to bring their business experience to the township during the campaign. Zimmerlink is the owner of Zimmerlink’s Paint and More, while Matis runs Matis Supply. Matis said during the campaign that he intends to turn the daily operation of his business over to staff members so he can devote himself full-time to the job of supervisor.
“I want to be full-time because you have to be around to know what really needs to be done,” Matis said.
Springfield supervisor
SPRINGFIELD TWP. – Democratic candidate and former supervisor Bill Striner apparently won his bid for a six-year open seat Tuesday by besting Republican candidate Rich Burkholder.
With two of two voting precincts tabulated by the candidates, the unofficial results showed Striner received 283 votes to Burkholder’s 257 votes.
Striner ran for the post vacated by longtime supervisor Marshall Clark who opted to retire at the end of this year.
Both candidates are natives of Normalville.
Striner previously served as supervisor from 1986-1991 and ran again in 1992, but lost. When contacted Tuesday night, Striner said he worked very hard over the summer months going door-to-door and talking to residents.
“Everyone was very welcoming to me and I met a lot of people over the summer months,” said Striner.
“I’m glad to be back and I told the other two supervisors that I want to work with them as much as I can.”
Striner said he has a good relationship with the other supervisors and said they all want to help the people of their community.
“I hold a CDL license so I am able to operate various equipment, including equipment used for paving,” said Striner. “As a former supervisor, I am familiar with the costs to operate Springfield Township and I am interested in seeking grant funding for road maintenance and to help the Normalville and Mill Run volunteer fire departments.”
Burkholder said he lost the election and had no further comment.
However, Striner said he and Burkholder worked the polls all day Tuesday.
“He was a real gentleman about it,” said Striner, “and we shook hands and said, ‘May the best man win.”‘
Striner said after the votes were tallied, Burkholder congratulated him and said, “If you ever need any help, I’m willing to help you.”
Striner noted it was a close race, with only 26 votes separating the candidates.
Wharton supervisor
WHARTON TWP. – Republican incumbent Jim Means was elected for another six-year term upon capturing 752 votes, defeating Democratic challenger Dale S. Thieler, who received 184 votes, according to unofficial results from the county election bureau.
Fairchance council
FAIRCHANCE – Residents will see a new face on the borough council come January.
Democrat challenger Richard W. Pukl was elected to the fourth open seat on borough council after capturing 116 votes in the general election, according to unofficial results from the Fayette County Election Bureau. Pukl said he defeated write-in candidate and council incumbent Marcia Goisse.
Council incumbents and Democrats Raymond C. Eicher and Herbert J. Myers were re-elected to council, while Democrat Vicki L. Tate was elected to council for the first time after replacing the late Betty L. Romesburg earlier this year.
Contacted at home after the election results were in, Pukl said he served on the borough council and as borough council president in the past, but refused to reveal his plans for the next term.
Point Marion council
POINT MARION – Incumbents Ted Shaffer, Joseph A. Murphy and Dewey L. Stillwagon were re-elected to borough council for another four-year term, while newcomer Gary Reynolds was voted to the fourth seat on council.
They defeated challengers Maxie E. Justice and William W. Shaffer.
According to unofficial results, Ted Shaffer and Murphy were the top vote-getters with each capturing 132 votes, while Stillwagon received 129 votes and Reynolds captured 125. Justice received 86 votes, while William Shaffer came in last with 46 votes.
Ted Shaffer won the election bid for another four-year term, which will mark his fourth term on the council after 13 years of service.
In a previous interview, Shaffer noted he will push forward with water system improvements, the first step being an additional water tank reserve, and he hoped for the approval of “a huge sum” of grant money that the borough applied for in September to use to construct a new borough building.
Also in a previous interview, Murphy, who has worked as the chairman of the borough’s grant committee since elected to the council, noted success in gaining grants for the borough. He said the borough has submitted an application for $300,000 to finish work at the community park, including a walking path, bathroom renovation and conversion of the field house into a community building and trailhead for the Rail-to-Trail project to come to Point Marion.
Reynolds said in a previous interview that he decided to run for council after several residents approached him about their concerns not being addressed.
Reynolds retired from a 27-year position as the borough’s police officer.
Stillwagon, in a previous interview, said the community’s infrastructure has to take priority and noted the council is working on securing a loan for the project through the Rural Utilities Service and extending the repayment period throughout a long period of years so residents would pay the minimum amount possible on their monthly bills.
Point Marion mayor
POINT MARION – Democratic incumbent Robert A. Wolfe won his bid for election and the right to another four-year term as mayor after capturing 140 votes, ousting Republican challenger Charles Jacob who gained 61 votes, according to unofficial election results from the county election bureau.
Wolfe said the win shows that the residents of Point Marion are happy with his performance as mayor throughout the last four years. He said under his direction, borough officers have targeted drug and alcohol offenses at a higher level of enforcement.
“I will try to continue and carry on from experience,” Wolfe said after learning of the election results Tuesday night.
Wolfe noted that his future goal is to hire a part-time officer to provide better overnight police protection in the borough.
“Because the safety of the residents matter,” he said.
Smithfield mayor
SMITHFIELD – Incumbent and Democratic candidate Charles J. Cieszynski Jr. defeated Republican challenger Jesse J. Moats and won the right to another four-year term in his bid for election as he captured 107 votes to Moats’ 73 with 100 percent of the vote count reported, according to unofficial results from the county election bureau.