Clinton County primary election field set

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Tuesday of this week was the deadline for candidates to file to run in Clinton County’s May 16 primary election and the final listing shows no surprises.

Atop the list in this year’s municipal election is that for Clinton County Commissioner, each of the county’s two major parties nominating two candidates each in May, the top three vote-getters in November winning four-year terms in the Piper Building beginning in 2024.

Current county commissioner/board chairman Miles Kessinger, a Republican, had announced earlier he would not see re-election. Four Republicans are running in the primary. They are incumbent commissioner Jeff Snyder, Lock Haven city council member Doug Byerly, retired Lock Haven contractor Jim Russo, and Michele Whitney, a principal in the Clinton County Watchdog organization.

Incumbent Democratic commissioner Angela Harding is the only member of her party to file nominating petitions. It is the first time in memory the party has failed to nominate at least two candidates.

All other row office positions see incumbents who did not draw any opposition from either party. They are District Attorney Dave Strouse (D), Prothonotary Cindy Love (R), Sheriff Kerry Stover (D) and Register & Record Jennifer Hoy (R).

All three of the county’s district justice positions are on the ballot this year, but only the Mill Hall area seat, where incumbent John Maggs is retiring, will see a competition. Three candidates have cross-filed there: Jed Hill, Heidi Wright and Kristin Smith. Incumbent Lock Haven area district judge Keith Kibler is unopposed, as is Renovo area judge Frank Mills.

Five of the Keystone Central School District’s nine board seats are up this year and four of those will see primary contests. Wayne Koch is the longtime District I representative, but he is not seeking re-election. Running to replace him are Mary Ann Clark, Dawn Moyer and Chris Scaff. Region IV will see a primary race between incumbent Jeff Johnston and Karen Poorman; in Region VIII it will be incumbent Rick Schulze versus challenger Tom Cannon. Board president David Dietrich in Region VI is being challenged by William Baldino.

Incumbent KCSD board member Polly Donahay in Region III has no primary opponent.

There is a three-way race for the two Republican nominations for the parttime county post of auditor, three to be elected in November. The GOP candidates are incumbent Brooke Fravel, along with Jacqui Anastos and Cathy Gedon. Incumbent Michelle Crowell will be the lone candidate on the Democratic primary ballot.

There are also dozens and dozens of local races, from township supervisor to the mayor of Lock Haven, on the primary ballot.

Relative to the upcoming primary, county voter registrar Maria Boileau shared this information:

The last day to file objections to nomination petitions is March 14, 2023
The Casting of Lots to determine candidates position on the ballot is March 15, 2023 at noon at the Clinton County Courthouse Courtroom #1.
The last day to withdraw from the election is March 22, 2023.