MERCER COUNTY AREA — It was a ho-hum Election Day in Mercer County, with unofficial results putting the turnout at a mere 24 percent. A couple of minor problems with voting machines were reported but did not impact results.
Following are stories about major contested races in the Mercer County area:
BROOKFIELD: Voters defeat Pasquerilla family’s school board bid
Brookfield Township voters overwhelmingly rejected a controversial school board member and his wife and daughter on Tuesday.
Joseph Pasquerilla received by far the most votes of any of the candidates for school board four years ago. This year it was the other way around, according to unofficial results. He and his wife and daughter, Ann and Rachel, were beaten by incumbent board member Kelly Carrier-Bianco, former board member Ronda Bonekovic and newcomer Gwen Martino in what could be called a landslide.
Pasquerilla polled 543 votes, his wife, Ann, 428, and his daughter, 457.
Mrs. Carrier-Bianco garnered 2008 votes, Mrs. Bonekovic came in second with 1695, and Mrs. Martino was third with 1663.
Unofficial results posted at the precincts do not include absentee ballots and early voting results.
Mrs. Bonekovic and Mrs. Martino will replace Pasquerilla and Dean Fisher who had usually voted with Pasquerilla and did not run for re-election.
Pasquerilla ran on a platform of controlling costs, and voted “no” and abstained more than any other board member during his tenure.
He was accused of stone-walling on a contract with Brookfield Federation. The contract was eventually negotiated with the teachers giving some concessions on salaries and benefits. BFT members gave Mrs. Carrier-Bianco much of the credit for the final contract.
Pasquerilla was a key figure in the passage of a bond issue which provided Brookfield’s share of the cost for a new K-12 school building.
“The voters decided to go in a different direction. We accept that and understand that, and we hope the district flourishes in the future,” Joe Pasquerilla said on behalf of himself and his wife and daughter.
“It feels like we can start moving in a new direction,” Mrs. Bonekovic said. “The people of Brookfield have spoken, and we’re thrilled.”
Mrs. Carrier-Bianco and Mrs. Martino echoed those sentiments on Tuesday evening. The three celebrated together at Mrs. Carrier-Bianco’s house after going from precinct to precinct and counting the votes.
“We’re feeling like the hard work paid off,” Mrs. Carrier-Bianco said. “We all came together early in the election, and decided we didn’t like the idea of a single family controlling the school board. Five independent voices is better.”
Martino said that the children of the district will now be at the forefront of everything.
“It feels like there’s going to be sanity in the school board,” she said.
Bonekovic said the two new board members and the three returning board members might not agree on everything, but they will be able to work together.
GREENVILLE: Newcomer Candela beats incumbent Miller for mayor
Peter A. Candela came out on top Tuesday in the race for Greenville mayor against incumbent Richard H. Miller, who’s finishing up his first term.
Unofficially, Republican Candela garnered 415 votes from Greenville’s four precincts for the 4-year term and Democrat Miller had 379.
“I almost don’t know what to say,” Candela, 60, of 33 Taylor St., said Tuesday night while he celebrated with his family at home.
Candela didn’t run in the spring primary but received 12 write-in votes that were approved for Tuesday’s ballot. The Dayton, Ohio, native didn’t do a lot of campaigning like knocking on doors, but made his bid for mayor known in talking with people around town.
“I wanted people to know they could approach me,” Candela said.
He said he was surprised with the results because he’s lived in Greenville for only four years, but he’s not surprised because he thought Miller “rubbed some people the wrong way.”
Candela looks forward to serving with council, which will include several new members Jan. 1 and a new borough manager soon after that.
“It’s going to be a big boost for the borough,” he said of the new faces.
He hasn’t decided yet what issues he wants to tackle first. He just wants to get his feet on the ground and brought up to speed, he said.
Candela is retired and has worked in human resources at Ohio State University and managed a Family Dollar and Rite Aid.
Miller, 67, of 284 Clinton St., beat out longtime mayor Clifford Harriger in 2005 and said there was nothing wrong with Candela’s win.
Miller wished him luck and said he doesn’t plan to run again in the future. He expects he’ll stay busy with Keystone Research Inc., Greenville, a company he founded in 1989 that does court-appointed receiverships for businesses and administers labor management programs for labor unions and unionized employers.
MERCER COUNTY: Richardson wins fifth term, defeats blogger
It looks like Mercer County has made its choice for treasurer.
Sixteen year incumbent Ginny Steese Richardson won another 4-year term of office Tuesday, giving her a shot at two decades as the county's money handler.
Mrs. Richardson won with 68 percent of the vote over her opponent, small business woman and blogger-turned-candidate Roberta Biros.
Late Tuesday, Mrs. Richardson thanked the Mercer County voters for another four years, and promised that her doors would be open to any Mercer Countian who needs the treasurer's office, particular those who seek the licenses the office dispenses.
"I am a public servant to the people of Mercer County and my office is open to them," she said.
Republicans were in a cheerful mood at their campaign headquarters across the street from the courthouse in Mercer. When their very first results were called in, whoops erupted.
They announced vote totals in Jamestown, Lackawannock Township, and West Middlesex with glee early on in the evening, with some precincts coming in four-to-one in Mrs. Richardson's favor.
Mrs. Biros had settled in at her Delaware Township home with a small gathering of supporters and friends to hear the results. She hoped a rally from the Shenango Valley could pull her out, but as the night wore on, that looked increasingly unlikely.
But Mrs. Biros said she'd have done nothing differently, even in the face of a loss. "I have done everything I can possibly do," she said, and there are no regrets in her camp.
Mrs. Biros ran a campaign of principle, she said, accepting no campaign contributions and carrying a message of anti-incumbency, stating on her Web site that the position of treasurer was a public service and not a career.
While she ran as a Democrat, some Democrats were alienated by her sudden change of party affiliation before the primary and were worried she was dragging them into a GOP feud. The lack of a rally by Democrats to Mrs. Biros’ cause could have been a result of that split.
Mrs. Biros said she couldn't say if she'd run for office again. She did say she would continue to pen her blog "Mercer County Conservatives," where she aims to needle and occasionally laud the county's public officials at the county and state levels.
HERMITAGE: Republican candidates retain commissioner seats
Amy Caraballo was hoping that her vote would help make a change.
“I’m looking for some new blood,” the Morefield Road Democrat said of the Hermitage commissioners race.
Her wish came true part way. Voters retained two Republican incumbents but swapped an incumbent Democrat for a newcomer.
Tim Ruffo, who is completing a two-year term, will be replaced by Rhonda Paglia.
“I’m a little disappointed, I guess, but it appears the Republican Party came out and voted pretty strong,” Ruffo said, who congratulated the victors. “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. The city’s in good hands.”
In unofficial totals, Republican Rita L. Ferringer topped the voting with 1,524 tallies, followed by Ms. Paglia’s 1,488. If those rankings stand, they will serve four-year terms.
Finzel, with 1,484 votes, would get a two-year term.
Ruffo followed with 1,463, and newcomer Democrat Mark Prokay tallied 1,157.
Ms. Ferringer said she was “worried” about her chances during the campaign.
“I know people were upset about the garbage and I understand,” she said. “But, I’m thrilled (with the results).”
With another term, Ms. Ferringer said she hoped to get more public input, and encouraged people to approach her with their views and attend meetings.
“Even though we have public meetings, they don’t come,” she said.
She also said commissioners are facing tough budget decisions because of the economy, and pledged to work with state officials to try to give city officials more options when it comes time to award new garbage contract in five years.
She said she is thinking about future generations.
“I would want to see my grandchildren be able to raise their children in a nice, safe environment like Hermitage,” she said.
The controversial issues the commissioners have faced in recent years didn’t necessarily result in voter revolts. While the new garbage contract has been the subject of regular complaints this year, Ms. Caraballo said she is “pleased” with it, especially the new option of putting out yard waste for pickup.
She said her vote was motivated by the desire for change and economic growth. The city has not gained jobs, she said.
A Valley View Road resident who asked not to be named said the garbage contract’s fee hikes were “awfully high,” and he questioned whether the specifications were “proper.”
He also said he was disappointed the commissioners approved the Quaker Meadow housing development on Valley View, when, he said, other communities have managed to keep out undesirable developments.
The retired Democrat said he believes Quaker Meadow, which will have income caps on its rental units, could bring in undesirable elements such as crime, and will depress neighboring property values.
But, the man said, his views did not directly affect his votes. He called himself “negligent” in studying the candidates, and said he would decide who to vote for based on the names on the ballot.
SHARON: Voters, Palanski make history
Sharon voters made history Tuesday by electing a man with no party affiliation to city council.
Independent candidate Edward M. Palanski led at the polls in the heavily Democratic city.
“I’m really happy — of course I’m happy,” Palanski said after the totals were in. “I told everyone that I wanted a seat on council. I want to go to work. I’m looking forward to it.”
According to unofficial results, Palanski garnered 1,066 votes and will join incumbent Democrat Victor Heutsche, who got 946 votes, on council. Democrat Dion Dellibovi received 770 votes.
“I’m 100 percent disappointed,” said Dellibovi, 40, of 1087 Pearl St. “I’m still happy I ran. It was a good experience.”
He said he’s still willing to get involved and may run again in another election.
Dellibovi said that he would have spoken up for the common man, and though he might not be as articulate as the other candidates, he had “the best thoughts at heart.
“If the people wanted a voice for change, they should’ve voted me in,” said Dellibovi, adding that he feels folks’ll be getting the “same old, same old” but he congratulated his opponents.
“I’m glad I won and I think Ed Palanski will do a fine job,” said Heutsche, 55, of 1315 Stanton St. “He’s a smart guy and very dedicated. Ed cares about the city and I think he’ll work fine with all of us.”
“I’m just a footnote to history,” said Palanski, 60, of 1699 Hannah Court.
His election bodes well for the future of Sharon, Palanski said, and he hopes to see more people participate in local government.
“There are a lot of talented people in Sharon. I’d like to see some women, minorities and young people” get involved, Palanski said, adding that he fully intends to encourage that.
“I don’t know that good things are going to happen overnight but it’s good that people are getting involved,” Heutsche said.
Palanski said he wanted to congratulate Dion Dellibovi for “stepping forward and putting himself before the public.”
He added that he was very impressed with how professional and polished Dellibovi’s daughter was while working the polls.
Dellibovi thanked his wife Sheila and children Abriana, 15, and Dante, 11, for standing out in the wind Tuesday.
“We love the city and are not going anywhere,” Dellibovi said.
Palanski said his “absolutely positively No. 1 focus is building a sound fiscal foundation and everything else goes forward from that.”
Right now, Palanski said he’ll be concentrating on helping to find a city manager for the city as head of the home rule transition committee. Heutsche agreed that was the first thing officials need to deal with.
“Hopefully this week we’re going to decide on a city manager,” Heutsche said.
Balancing the city’s budget, which Heutsche said he received Monday night from the mayor, is another task.
