Democrats poised for victory in Ferguson Township & more results from Tuesday’s election
Across Centre County, seats on municipal boards and councils were up for grabs in Tuesday’s election, with newcomers in several races looking toward victory.
Voter turnout for Centre County was 32.65%, according to the most recent data available. In the primary election, turnout was reported to be 28.55%. County Commissioner Michael Pipe said Tuesday evening he was not aware of any issues at polling places, which follows the statewide trend.
“Thanks to the hard work and professionalism of county election officials and poll workers, we didn’t see any major or widespread issues,” Pennsylvania’s Acting Secretary of State Veronica Degraffenreid said in a press release Tuesday. “No-excuse mail-in voting remained a popular option among voters in this fourth election since it first became available in Pennsylvania.”
In Centre County, 12,873 absentee or mail-in ballots were sent and 10,881 were returned. The majority of those were pre-canvassed and counted Tuesday, but processing of about 1,680 that were received on Election Day was set to take place Wednesday, according to Pipe.
Voters cast their votes statewide judicial races, which saw success for Republicans, along with local school board seats and municipal races. Of the few contested races for supervisor and council seats across the county, the Ferguson Township Supervisors race was one of the most discussed.
With the most recent election data available, Democrats Tierra D. Williams and incumbent Lisa Strickland are the top vote-getters for the two at-large seats, and Democrat Hilary Caldwell has the most votes for the Ward 2 two-year term. If these results become official, it would be the first all-female board of supervisors.
Williams declared victory Wednesday morning in a press release.
“After a long, and difficult race, Ferguson residents voted for progressive change,” she wrote.
She also pointed to the historic nature of the election.
“As the first Afro-American newly elected to the Ferguson Township Board of Supervisors, I would be remiss if I did not congratulate those who have made history in our town,” she wrote. “Ezra Nanes is the first Jewish Mayor for the State College Borough, Gopal Balachandran, the first Indian American Council member, and B. Divine Lipscomb, the first Black/African- American formerly incarcerated council member Carline Crevecoeur also made history as the first Haitian/Black American to be elected to the State College School Board.”
Two seats were up for election for College Township Council. Two Democrats — incumbent L. Eric Bernier and Dustin Best — have the most votes, with Republican incumbent Anthony Fragola trailing.
In Halfmoon Township, Republican Ronald Servello had about 100 more votes than Democrat incumbent Danelle Del Corso.
Countywide races were uncontested, with Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna poised to be elected to his second term and Gregory Koehle running unopposed for district judge. Jury commissioners Hope Miller and Shelley L. Thompson are expected to keep their positions.
Below are unofficial results for Tuesday’s election for contested Centre County races. Results were updated following a report from the county released just before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, with all precincts partially reporting. All results are unofficial until certified by the Board of Elections.
The Centre County Board of Elections will meet to certify the official election results at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, according to a tweet from the Centre County Government.
Boggs Township Board of Supervisors (1 seat)
Leo Bomboy (D): 198
David J. Veneziano II (R): 489
College Township Council (2 seats)
L. Eric Bernier (D): 1,861
Dustin Best (D): 1,710
Anthony Fragola (R): 1,232
Write-in: 12
Ferguson Township Board of Supervisors At-Large (2 seats)
Lisa Strickland (D): 3,153
Tierra D. Williams (D): 2,613
Patti Higgins (R): 2,166
Jeremie Thompson (R): 1,624
Write-in: 58
Ferguson Township Board of Supervisors Ward 2 — 2 year-term (1 seat)
Hilary Caldwell (D): 1,283
Robert A. Whitaker (R): 850
Write-in: 3
Gregg Township Board of Supervisors 2-year term (1 seat)
Cathy J. Arney (D): 284
Ben Haupt (R): 328
Write-in: 8
Halfmoon Township Board of Supervisors (1 seat)
Danelle Del Corso (D): 418
Ronald B. Servello (R): 516
Harris Township Board of Supervisors (2 seats)
Dennis Hameister (D): 1,280
Franklin Harden (R): 1,059
Write-in: 491
Philipsburg Borough Council (4 seats)
Barbara A. Gette (D): 210
Harry Wood (D/R): 233
Faith Bordas-Maguire (R): 314
Jerry Lese (R): 277
James B. Stiver (R): 280
Write-in: 11
Snow Shoe Borough Council (3 seats)
Chad Marshall (D): 60
Bruce Houck (R): 104
Tim Killinger (R): 102
Chistopher Barton (R): 95
Write-in: 13
Spring Township Constable
Yamina Yumyum Cunningham (D): 602
Clint Ripka (R): 1,602
Write-in: 2
To view all unofficial results from the election, visit https://centrecountypa.gov/2275/2021-Municipal-Election-Unofficial-Resul
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 10:58 PM.
