Heller withdraws as commissioner candidate, Masorti challenges Long for LH mayor
LOCK HAVEN, PA – The most recent posting of candidates for Clinton County’s November election shows a couple significant changes from the spring primary results.
Among them, Joan Heller has withdrawn as a candidate for Clinton County Commissioner. Heller had gained the second Democratic nomination for commissioner in the May primary through the write-in process, but had acknowledged that she did so to deny any Republicans from earning the second party nomination through write-ins.
She had told The Record at the time, “The county commissioners office was designed to have majority and minority representation, i.e., Republican and Democratic. This office is too strategic to be controlled by one party.”
By law, the Clinton County Democratic Party has until Aug. 24 to submit a substitute nomination certificate, but all indications are the party will not be doing so.
Therefore, as a result of her departure, the November ballot will now list three candidates: on the Republican ticket newcomer Jim Russo and incumbent Jeff Snyder and Angela Harding, the lone Democratic nominee; tantamount to election for all three.
And this week brought word that Lock Haven city council member Barbara Masorti has filed the necessary petitions to appear on the November ballot as an independent and challenge incumbent Democratc Mayor Joel Long in November. There will be no Republicans on the mayoral ballot in the fall.
Masorti is the manager of Masorti Enterprises, Inc. She was appointed to city council in February of 2020 and earned a full, 4-year term in 2021.
She is one of four county residents seeking election in November through the independent route. The others are: Eric Williamson, Magisterial District Judge 25-3-03 (Renovo area) 6 Year Term; Jody Ritter, Gallagher Township Auditor 4 Year Term; and Timber Timothy Lester, Gallagher Township, Supervisor, 2 Year Term.
