School board contest all but settled in May

The drama of local school board elections was all but settled in the primary back in May, but there are a number of open seats that will be filled in Tuesday's general election.

Shamokin Area

Four candidates are on the ballot for four open seats.

The primary winners separated themselves from a pack of 11 candidates - and several controversies. Barring any write-in votes, incumbents Edward Griffiths, Tracey Witmer and LaRue Beck, and political newcomer Brian Persing, who all cross-filed in the primary and will appear on both ballots, will win seats.

Griffiths was the top vote-getter on both party tickets in the spring in what was the primary's most competitive race. But his candidacy was challenged as a possible violation of the federal Hatch Act, a 1939 law that applies to executive branch state and local employees who are principally employed in connection with programs financed in whole or in part by loans or grants made by the U.S. or a federal agency. Griffiths, a corporal with the Shamokin Police Department, which uses equipment purchased with federal funds, was cleared of any possible violation in a ruling by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel on Aug. 13.

Another Shamokin police officer, Jarrod J. Scandle, of Shamokin, withdrew from the race prior to the primary because his salary is directly paid for three years by a federal grant called "Police on Patrol." His bid for office was considered a violation of the Hatch Act.

Yet another primary story revolved around candidate William Dobson. He was prohibited by state law from earning a school board seat because he is a convicted felon, but his name remained on the ballot because a challenge to his candidacy was filed too late for the primary. In 1972, Dobson pleaded guilty to arson and other charges in Northumberland County Court.

Mount Carmel Area

Incumbents Donna James, Charles Mannello and Dr. Ray Kraynak, along with former Kulpmont mayor and councilman Nicholas P. Goretski, who all cross-filed on the Republican and Democratic tickets, pretty much assured their election to Mount Carmel Area School Board with victories in the primary.

In this case, however, they were the only candidates listed on the ballot for four open seats. The lead vote-getter was Kraynak. Incumbent Dennis Hepler is not seeking re-election, and the terms for the others have not expired.

Line Mountain

In the only contested seat for Line Mountain School Board in the primary, newcomer Lamont Masser of Leck Kill was victorious over incumbent Marilyn Kauffman for a two-year seat.

Kauffman of Dornsife, held a four-year term, but decided to seek a two-year seat, which formerly belonged to David Keim, who did not run for re-election after being appointed two years ago.

Two seats are available in Region 1 for four-year terms, assuring incumbent Bryan Buddock, of Dornsife, and Lawrence I. Neidig, of Sunbury, seats Tuesday, barring any write-ins. Both were cross-filed for the four-year terms.

Incumbents Dennis W. Erdman of Herndon in Region 2 and Jeffrey S. Blasius of West Cameron Township in Region 3 ran unopposed for their seats on the board.

Southern Columbia

In Southern Columbia Area School District, three of the Region 1 seats were available and no one opposed the incumbents, who all cross-filed.

Richard Steele and Michael Yeager, both of Elysburg, earned four-year terms, while incumbent Timothy W. Vought, also of Elysburg, won a two-year term.

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