Two Pine Creek Township residents lose court challenge to block township supervisor candidacy

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Noting the timeliness of the request, Clinton County President Judge Craig P. Miller on Monday denied a petition from two Pine Creek Township residents upset with how the Clinton County Republican Party handled the filling of a GOP candidate vacancy for township supervisor on Tuesday’s municipal ballot.

The petitioners, Michele Whitney and Kevin Ferrara, had filed the challenge on Thursday of last week, asking the court to set aside and invalidate the party’s substituted nomination certificate for candidate David Winkleman Jr and “to refrain from tabulating any and all votes cast” for him.

The hearing lasted less than half an hour before Judge Miller. At its conclusion he told Whitney and Ferrara, “You’re out of time…petition denied.” He noted they have the right to appeal. They argued Clinton County Republican Party officialdom had acted “outside the public eye” and improperly when they selected Winkleman’s name to be on the November 7 ballot. They said the GOP action gave Winkleman, appointed earlier this year as a supervisor, an unfair advantage over any prospective write-in candidates.

Whitney argued Winkleman’s selection created “an unfair playing field” and Ferrara said there were no signatures from township residents on the nominating certificate.

Pine Creek Township solicitor Thom Rosamilia had earlier submitted his objections to the petitioners’ request. Supporting his view at the hearing were attorney John Lugg representing the county GOP and Sharon Corcoran representing county solicitor Larry Coploff. Winkleman also spoke, saying Whitney and Ferrara were attempting to “take away my right to run for office.” Lugg said their action is “very alarming,” seeking to deprive township voters the right to have their votes counted. He also claimed the appellants did not comply with the rule of civil procedure.

Whitney and Ferrara said they learned of the Winkleman selection on Oct. 24. The Court alluded to the timeline in the case, noting their challenge was not filed until Nov. 2.

Winkleman had been appointed by present supervisors John Reese and Dean Edwards Jr. in August to fill a vacancy created when supervisor Kenneth Packard resigned for health reasons. He was named by GOP officials in September to have his name on the municipal ballot. Winkleman will be seeking a 4-year term, his opponent Democrat and former township supervisor Dennis Greenaway.