Democrats Horton, Troop, Flores, Pol win Erie City Council nominations in primary
According to final unofficial vote totals from the Erie County Courthouse, former Erie County Councilman Andre Horton was the top vote-getter with 6,770 votes, or 22%, followed by current council members Jasmine Flores (6,446 votes, 21%), Maurice Troop (5,311 votes, 17%) and former deputy city clerk Marilyn Pol, who garnered 4,856 votes, or 16%.
Deonte Cooley, a local realtor, received 4,322 votes, or 14%, and lawyer Darrel Vandeveld got 3,271 votes, or 11 percent.
Four City Council seats were on the ballot in the municipal primary, and there will be at least two new faces on the seven-member panel in 2026.
Previous coverage: Erie City Council race includes six Democrats, including two incumbents, on primary ballot
That is because council member Chuck Nelson and current council President Mel Witherspoon, both Democrats, are not seeking new four-year terms.
Nelson unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for city controller in the primary; Witherspoon is retiring from politics.
The four Democrats will face off against four Republicans who were on the primary ballot: Yevet Anderson, Anita Fay, Tina Hiotis and Kimberly Hunter — in the Nov. 4 municipal election.
Election coverage: Meet the four Republican candidates in the Erie City Council race
The GOP candidates are attempting to beat long odds in November.
No Republican has served on City Council since John Evans, a CPA and certified financial planner, did so as an appointee between June 2012 and December 2013.
Evans had been the first Republican to serve on City Council since Denise Robison, who was elected to a seat on the seven-member panel in 1989.
That Democratic dominance is largely due to the more than 2-to-1 Democratic voter registration edge within city limits.
Starting in 2024, City Council members, who serve part-time, saw their first salary increase since 1986. Council members who've served 12 months or less now earn $6,000 a year; the salary is $8,000 for members who have served between 12 and 24 months. Members who have served between 24 and 36 months receive $10,000 annually; those who've served 36 months or more earn $12,000 a year.
Council's president receives an additional $2,000 a year.
Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on X at @ETNflowers.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie City Council: Horton, Flores, Troop, Pol secure Dem nominations
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