Six want to be commissioner

BY STACI WILSON

The 2011 primary season is officially underway with petitions filed showing six candidates interested in a 4-year term as Susquehanna County Commissioner.

Incumbents Mary Ann Warren and Leon Allen, both Democrats, and Republican Michael Giangreco will face a challenge from Republicans  Fred Baker of Springville, Alan Hall of Hallstead, and Ricky Oakley of Liberty.

The casting of lots will be held today, Wednesday, March 16 at noon in the commissioners meeting room, Susquehanna County Courthouse, Maple St., Montrose to determine position on the May 17 ballot.

Other races on tap:

County Auditor

Republican: Holly Bialy (incumbent), Lenox; and George Starzec (incumbent), Montrose.

Democratic: Susan Jennings (incumbent), Brooklyn; and Melanie Kozlowski.

Four county row office holders are running unopposed for reelection to a four-year term of office on the Republican ballot.

Register/Recorder: Mary Evans, Montrose.

County Treasurer: Catherine Benedict, Jackson.

District Attorney: Jason Legg, Silver Lake.

Coroner: Anthony Conarton, Great Bend.

The New Milford and Montrose District Justice seats are up for election this year. The seat carries a six-year term.

Incumbent Magisterial District Justice Peter Janicelli is not seeking reelection this year.

Three candidates are seeking the post. All three will appear on both the Republican and Democratic ballots in May.

Candidates are: Jodi Cordner, Harmony; Kathleen Ragard, Great Bend; and Raymond Telnock, Hallstead.

Those candidates will appear on ballots in: Great Bend, Hallstead, Lanesboro, New Milford, Oakland, Susquehanna and Thompson boroughs; and Ararat, Great Bend, Harmony, Jackson, New Milford, Oakland and Thompson townships.

Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey Hollister is seeking reelection to the Montrose District Judge seat on both the Republican and Democratic ballot in the primary election.

He is running unopposed for the position.

Hollister will appear on ballots in Friendsville, Little Meadows and Montrose boroughs; and Apolacon, Auburn, Bridgewater, Choconut, Dimock, Forest Lake, Franklin, Jessup, Liberty, Middletown, Rush, Silver Lake and Springville townships.

On the municipal level, two mayoral posts are on the ballot and several borough council and township supervisor races are contested.

The incumbent, appointed mayors of Little Meadows and Susquehanna are both running unopposed to two-year terms for their current positions.

Vivian Novak was appointed as mayor of Little Meadows after no one appeared on the 2009 ballot.

Michael Matis received his appointment to mayor of Susquehanna following the death of Mayor Denise Reddon in 2010.

In Franklin Twp., a six-year and a two-year seat are up for grabs.

Incumbent supervisor Daniel Depue will square off in a primary challenge against Terry Rosevear for election to the six-year seat.

Two candidates have also thrown their hats into the ring for election to the two-year term.

Republican candidates Lee Burch and Helen Vile are both vying for the seat.

Two seats are also up for election in Great Bend Borough, a four-year and a two year position.

Although no candidates have expressed interest in the two-year seat, four have filed to run for the four-year seat.

Republican incumbent Jerry MacConnell is currently serving in the four-year position up for election.

MacConnell faces a primary challenge from Michael Wasko.

Two current appointed council members Richard Franks and Bret Jennings are seeking the Democratic primary nod for that four-year position.

Montrose Borough’s First Ward has both a four-year and a two-year seat appearing on this year’s ballot.

Incumbent Republican Randall Schuster is seeking re-election to the seat.

Schuster will run unopposed on the primary ballot due to a filing error of another would-be GOP candidate for the seat, Tom LaMont.

LaMont, who was appointed to council in 2010, submitted a nomination petition for the four-year term.

No candidates are seeking election to the two-year, first ward, council position.

Incumbent Democrat Mary Anne Waddington faces a primary challenge for a four-year seat in Montrose Borough’s Second Ward.

Running against Waddington in the primary are candidates Tony Pickett; Julanne Skinner; and Salvatore Vetri.

No candidates are seeking election to the two-year, second ward, council position.

There are four available council seats in Susquehanna Borough that carry a four-year term.

Roberta Kelly is running unopposed on the GOP primary ballot for a position on council.

But five candidates will square off in the Democratic primary.

Candidates for the seats are: David Scales Sr.; Diana Williams; Roy Williams; Allen Wolf; and Deborah Zayas.

A two-year council seat is also open in Susquehanna.

Paul Barnes and John Hendrickson are vying for the Democratic primary nod.

No Republican candidates filed for the race.