LEWISTOWN - Incumbent Republican candidates Mark Sunderland and Otis Riden as well as Democratic numerous Kevin Kodish and Dennis Noble claimed victories in the Mifflin County Commissioner primary races on Tuesday.
Unofficial election results state Sunderland received 2,355 total votes and Riden secured 1,819 total votes, while their Republican challengers Jim Fosselman received 1,401 votes, David Runk received 1,184 votes and Monte Kemmler received 911 votes.
Sunderland said he was humbled by the victory and glad voters gave him the opportunity in the fall. He said moving forward, it would be important to balance the budgets and hold the line on taxes.
"We have to make tough decisions and gotta tell the truth," he said.
Riden said he was thankful to everyone who came out to vote for him despite the inclement weather.
"I'd like to everyone who voted for me," Riden said. "I promise the people I'll continue to do my job as commissioner. I look forward to the fall and will appreciate any votes."
When asked what the top priority will be for the general election, Riden said "holding the line on taxes for the county." He said both he and Mark Sunderland will watch over the county's finances.
The only two Democratic candidates on the ballot were also triumphant. Longtime Lewistown Area High School girls basketball coach Kevin Kodish received 1,243 votes, while current Juniata Terrace Borough President Dennis Noble secured 1,067 votes.
Noble said his personal experience in local and statewide government would be an asset to the commissioner's office. Noble stressed the importance of promoting tourism in the county.
"We have a unique opportunity with the mountains and streams to to attract more people."
Kodish said he was thankful the people of Mifflin County who came out to vote. He said he could see why people would be apathetic because there were only two candidates on ballot.
When asked what he would do to enhance the prosperity of the county, he said he would gain insight into the by investigate the inventory of operations and "improve efficiencies."
Incumbent Republican Daniel P. Lynch defeated Republican challenger Scott Swanger with 3,274 votes in the coroner's race. Swanger fell short with only 838 votes.
Lynch said he respected Swanger's privilege to participate in the democratic process, but ultimately did not believe he possessed the experience necessary to do the job.
"I want to say a great big thank you to anyone who helped me in this campaign," Lynch said. "There were a lot of people who helped me in a lot of different ways and I appreciate every single vote."
Snook secured the Republican candidacy for district attorney with 2,590 votes compared to the 1,173 write-in votes. There were a total of 926 total Democratic write-in votes, however it is unclear how many votes Dave Molek - for whom a write-in candidacy was started - received.
Snook said he was thrilled with the victory he claimed on the Republican ticket, however said the Democratic write-in votes would have to be sorted out.
"I see that he (Molek) won school board," Snook said. "He's going to have to think about what he wants to do. It would be politically impossible to run (for both positions) at the same time."
Republican auditor candidates James North and Helen Kirk claimed victories by securing 2,510 and 2,703 votes, respectively, while Democrat Cynthia Knorr also won an uncontested race by receiving 1,340 votes.
Republican Tammy Stuck won the prothonotary candidacy by securing 3,424 votes. Jack E. Miller secured 1,303 votes on the GOP ballot and earned 610 votes in the Democratic election as Magisterial District Judge for district 58-3-01. Both will run unopposed in the general election in November.
Lewistown Borough Council President Jim Felmlee, Republican, earned his party's nomination with 369 total votes. He was joined by John Adams with 285 votes and Lee Bollinger with 233 votes. Incumbent Republican Nelson Reiffannacht was defeated with only 179 votes. Republicans Scott Gutshall and Sam Stewart also fell short with 204 votes and 186 votes, respectively.
