Clinton County Election Tally – Write-Ins Fill Slots

S. Renovo Still  Looking for Mayor

elect-resultsby John Lipez

LOCK HAVEN – With the Clinton County official election tally all but complete, it has been determined several municipal posts have been filled through write-ins.

These include, as reported in The Record last week, Keith Bittner’s victory for Beech Creek Township Supervisor.

Incumbent township supervisor Colby Bechdel was the only candidate on the ballot. He received 37 votes but Bittner, a registered Republican, unseated Bechdel, earning 123 write-ins according to the election return board tally last Friday.

A pending vacancy on the Keystone Central School Board also has been filled. James Heiney, representing the district’s Region VII (Lock Haven’s Fourth and Fifth Wards) did not file to be on the ballot; as a result there were no candidates listed.

Heiney will be replaced by Roger Elling, a Region VII resident who received 13 write-in votes. Elling had been present at the school board meeting last Thursday, two days after the Nov. 5 election.

County voter registrar Maria Boileau said once the county commissioners certify the official tally results this week that Elling will be receiving a letter informing him of his election.

He would assume the city hill district post as part of the school board’s annual reorganization meeting set for Dec. 5.

South Renovo remains without a mayor. Previous Mayor James “Red” Franklin passed away earlier this year and his name remained as the only one on the November ballot.

South Renovo voters made Franklin the top vote-getter with 23 while Frank Morton received 17 write-ins.

A county spokesperson said it is likely South Renovo borough council will have to have the mayor’s position declared vacant and proceed with the process to find a replacement.

Write-ins were cast to fill a vacancy for a 2-year term on South Renovo council. Jeanette Morton earned the nod with six write-in votes; Keith Tripp received two and seven others got one vote apiece.

The election return board count also affirmed the re-election of longtime Chapman Township supervisor Tim Horner. On the ballot with both party nominations, Horner received 139 votes to 58 for Alice Tarr who had waged a write-in campaign.

Results in the county’s major races remained basically unchanged from the election night tally.

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