Susquehanna County Primary Election ballots take shape

Races are taking shape for the Tuesday, May 16, Municipal Primary, which will see voters making their choices for county, municipal and school board positions as well as for judge candidates seeking election to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Superior Court and Commonwealth Court.

County Commissioner

All three county commissioner seats are on the ballot, but only three candidates are running – two Republicans and one Democrat. County commissioners are elected to serve a four-year term. Voters can select up to two candidates on the ballot.

Incumbent Republican Alan Hall is running for re-election to his fourth term as commissioner. Democratic candidate Judith Herschel is seeking re-election to a second term.

Also running is David Darrow on the Republican ballot.

Commissioner Elizabeth Arnold opted to not seek a third term.

Register/Recorder

Two candidates are running for the Register/Recorder post on the Republican ticket.

Acting Register/Recorder Rachel Carrico is seeking the GOP nod. Carrico stepped into the position in November 2022 following the resignation of Michelle Estabrook from the post.

Wendy Zapolski is also looking for Republican support in the race to be the county’s next elected Register/Recorder.

Tom Charles is seeking election to the position on the Democratic ballot but does not face a challenge in the primary race.

Treasurer

Acting Treasurer Rebecca Wescott is the lone candidate on the Republican ballot for the position. Wescott has been serving as the county treasurer since Jason Miller resigned from the post to enter the private sector last year.

District Attorney

Republican incumbent Marion O’Malley is seeking re-election as the county’s district attorney. O’Malley was first appointed to the post in 2018, and then elected to the position in 2019.

Auditor

All three county auditor positions are on the ballot this year, with two incumbents seeking re-election. Voters can select up to two candidates on the ballot.

Incumbent Republican Bob DeLuca is seeking a second term on the GOP ballot. Also on the Republican ballot is Stephanie Sojka-Reisch. Reisch was appointed to serve as a county auditor following last year’s resignation of Richard Suraci.

Rick Ainey is seeking re-election to the position of county auditor on the Democratic ballot.

Coroner

Anthony Conarton is seeking re-election to the position of county coroner and appears on the GOP ballot. He was first elected as the county coroner in 1995, and – prior to his election – served as a Deputy and then Chief Deputy in the coroner’s office.

Magisterial District Judge

Three candidates are vying to replace the retiring Jeff Hollister as the Magisterial District Judge in Montrose District Court. Candidates can cross-file and appear on both the Republican and Democratic primary ballots for the six-year term.

Appearing on both the Republican and Democratic ballots in the race are Linda LaBarbera, Abbey Lewis and Gregory Scheer.

Montrose District Court covers the boroughs of Friendsville, Little Meadows and Montrose; and the townships of Apolacon, Auburn, Bridgewater, Choconut, Dimock, Forest Lake, Franklin, Jessup, Liberty, Middletown, Rush, Silver Lake, Springville.

New Milford District Court Incumbent Magisterial District Judge Jodi Cordner is also seeing re-election to a six-year term. She is unopposed on both the Republican and Democratic ballots.

The last day to register to vote before the primary election is May 1. The last day to apply for mail-in or civilian absentee ballots in May 9. Mail-in and civilian absentee ballots must be received by the County Board of Elections by May 16.