Klein edges O’Malley in DA race

BY STACI WILSON

With only one precinct left to be counted at 1 a.m., Wednesday, only one vote separated the top two candidates in the Susquehanna County race for district attorney.

Robert Klein held the slim edge over Marion O’Malley in the Republican primary battle that came down to Clifford Township.

Throughout the evening, O’Malley held a slight edge over Klein; but as the final votes were tallied in the horse race, Klein pulled ahead at the finish with 2,283 votes to O’Malley’s 2,247.

There were no Democratic candidates for district attorney on the ballot. The write-in votes will be totaled when the return board convenes on Friday.

Current Susquehanna County District Attorney Jason Legg earned both the Republican and Democratic nod in his bid to be the next judge in the Court of Common Pleas. He was unopposed on both ballots.

In the race for county commissioner, incumbent Republican Alan Hall took an early lead he maintained, posting the most votes of the field of five candidates vying to move forward to the November election. Hall garnered 2,576 votes.

Candidates Michael Redding, Frank Pinkowski and Elizabeth “Betsy” Arnold were neck and neck most of the night, showing no clear cut winner until the final vote totals came in. Arnold secured the second Republican slot, with 1,729 votes. Pinkowski finished with 1660; and Redding came in with 1,616.

In the Democratic commissioners’ race, three-term incumbent MaryAnn Warren was the top vote-getter at 1,205. Charles Bullock will also move on to the November ballot. He received 811 votes.

In the Republican race for Register/Recorder, Michelle Estabrook got the nod from voters with 1,499 votes. She will face Democratic candidate Tom Charles in the fall election.

In the race for county treasurer, Jason Miller took the Republican win with 3,277 votes. There were no Democratic candidates for the treasurer’s seat.

The three candidates for county auditor will all move on to the November ballot – Republicans George Starzec and Richard Suraci, and Democrat Susan Jennings.