Kessinger Paces GOP to Commissioner Office Win; Harding First Female Elected
LOCK HAVEN – The municipal election in Clinton County was one of firsts: Democrat Angela Harding became the first woman to ever be elected a county commissioner and Republican Miles Kessinger is believed to be the first to ever return to the commissioners’ office after an absence of 21 years.
Unofficial Tuesday election night results showed former commissioner Kessinger far and away the top vote-getter in a 4-candidate field. He piled up 4,351 votes and will be part of a GOP majority in the Piper building, joined by fellow Republican and incumbent commissioner Jeff Snyder, second with 3,927 votes. They will be joined by political newcomer Angela Harding, third with 3,134 votes. Incumbent Democratic commissioner Paul Conklin fell short of winning a second term, finishing with 3,049 in the unofficial tally.
Kessinger had served a term and a half as commissioner until resigning in the mid 1990s to become county court administrator, later stepping down from that post. He said his win left him at “a loss for words.” He called his victory overwhelming and said he was ready to resume his commissioner duties. Kessinger said an emphasis will be on getting the state to reduce the real estate tax burden on local taxpayers. He said that issue was a problem 21 years ago and “we’re still waiting for it to be addressed by Harrisburg.”
The re-elected Snyder shared Kessinger’s concern about reliance on real estate taxes. The incoming president of the state county commissioners association, Snyder said he will push that organization to lessen “the burden of real estate taxes” statewide. He noted he had served with Kessinger on the Keystone Central School Board and made a point to welcome the newcomer Harding to the commissioners’ office.
Harding said she is “honored to be the first female elected county commissioner,” especially since this is the 100th anniversary of women earning the right to vote. She said she had respect for fellow Democrat Conklin who was unsuccessful in his bid for a second term. Harding noted her party’s sizeable registration deficit in the county.
One row office incumbent fell Tuesday. The election night tally showed first-time candidate Cindy Love (R) defeating two-term incumbent Prothonotary Marie Vilello (D), 4,217 to 3,721. A professional grant-writer, Love said she had “no words on how I’m feeling.” She said she would spend Wednesday taking down campaign signs, then start the transition to her new job, starting with a conversation with county court administrator Don Powers.
A former county commissioner will become Lock Haven’s new mayor, effective the first of the year. Joel Long, a Democrat and current city vice-president, defeated first-time candidate Jeff Brinker, a Republican; the vote, Long 629, Brinker, 588. Long will replace current Mayor Bill Baney who did not seek re-election.
There were a number of contested township supervisor races on the ballot. The results:
Dunnstable Township: Thomas Bechtol Jr (R), 217; Donald Weise (D), 112.
Gallagher Township: Kenneth Porter (R), 88; Kenneth McCullough (D), 26.
Lamar Township: Larry Rhine (D), 328, Martin Salinas (R), 236.
Porter Township: Philip Courter (R), 294; the late Nevin Courter (D), 55.
Wayne Township: James Maguire (R), 233; Robin Condo (D), 193.
Complete preliminary election results can be viewed using the Clinton County Voter Map
County vote totals cam be viewed on the County Wide Vote Totals Page
