GOP regains county control

BY STACI WILSON and ROBERT L. BAKER

The Susquehanna County Republicans appear to have returned to power in the county commissioner post as newcomer Alan Hall and incumbent Michael Giangrieco led the field Tuesday night, Nov. 8.

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

Hall of Hallstead currently serves as the president of the Blue Ridge

School Board. Giangrieco, ofForestLakeTwp., is an incumbent commissioner who has served one term. He formerly served as the county solicitor and maintains a law practice in Montrose.

Warren, ofNew Milford, is a two-term incumbent commissioner. She also serves as the president of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts.

In the county auditor race, the three incumbents on the ballot, Republicans George Starzec and Holly Bialy, and Democrat Susan Jennings, were elected, turning back newcomer Melanie Kozlowsi, a Democrat.

Also unopposed on the ballot were Republican incumbents: District Attorney Jason Legg; County Treasurer Cathy Benedict; Coroner Anothony Conarton; and Register and Recorder Mary Evans, who all coasted to easy victories.

After securing the nomination on both the Republican and Democratic tickets in the May Primary against two other candidates, attorney Jodi Cordner secured her win in the District 2 Magisterial District Judge race.

Cordner will replace District Judge Peter Janicelli who plans to retire at the end of his term and did not seek reelection.

The district, with the court located inNew Milford, includes the boroughs ofGreat Bend, Hallstead,New Milford,Oakland, Susquehanna and Thompson, and the townships of Ararat,Great Bend, Harmony,Jackson,New Milford,Oaklandand Thompson.

Incumbent District 1 Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey Hollister ran unopposed in the primary and easily secured another term.

The magisterial district , with the court located in Montrose, includes Friendsville, Little Meadows and Montrose boroughs, and the townships of Apolacon, Auburn, Bridgewater, Choconut, Dimock, Forest Lake, Franklin, Jessup, Liberty, Middletown, Rush, Silver Lake and Springville.