Latest news with #ErieCountyElectionsandVoterRegistrationOffice
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Winarski fends off challengers to stay on Erie County Council; Wertz, Bayle get party nods
Erie County Councilman Jim Winarski, a Democrat whose tendency to align with Republicans has led to party criticism, staved off an array of Democratic challengers in the May 20 municipal primary election. Winarski, who's seeking his second, four-year term on council's 4th District seat, defeated Democratic opponents Michael Keys, Marcus Jacobs, Carl Anderson and Kevin Pastewka. By 11:25 p.m., Winarski received 1,218 votes, or 28.71% of a total 4,243 votes. Keys received 1,044 votes; Jacobs received 681 votes; Carl Anderson received 654 votes; and Pastewka received 637 votes; according to final unofficial vote totals the Erie County Elections and Voter Registration Office. No Republican ran for the seat in the May 20 primary. Winarski, 62, has frequently compromised his party's 5-2 veto-proof majority on council by siding and voting with his Republican colleagues. Democratic pushback culminated with the Erie County Democratic Party censuring Winarski in January 2023. Winarski told the Erie Times-News at the time that he doesn't make decisions based on politics. "It isn't about a 'D' or an 'R' with me," he said. "At no point whatsoever do any of my votes come down to siding with one party or the other. It's deciding what I honestly believe is the best for Erie and Erie County." The 4th District comprises much of Southeast Erie, in addition to Wesleyville Borough and portions of Millcreek. In the 2nd District, Democrat Jim Wertz handily defeated James DePalma for the Democratic nomination, receiving 2,596 votes over DePalma's 757 votes, final unofficial vote totals showed. Wertz, 46, previously served as chairman of the Erie County Democratic Party and most recently ran an unsuccessful campaign for the 49th District Pennsylvania Senate seat. He will face Republican Renee Vendetti ― who ran unopposed in Tuesday's municipal primary election ― in the November general election. More: Review live coverage from the May 20 Erie County municipal primary The 2nd District runs east from the Millcreek Township line across the city's bayfront to the Harborcreek Township line. The district includes all of Erie's first ward, parts of the second, third and fourth wards and Lawrence Park Township. The seat has been held by Democrat Andre Horton, who's serving his third term and is term-limited. In the 6th District, incumbent Republican Charlie Bayle defeated Republican Scott Rastetter, receiving 1,702 votes over Rastetter's 1,146 votes, final unofficial vote totals showed. No Democrat ran for the seat in the May 20 primary. The 6th District encompasses several municipalities across the southern and eastern reaches of Erie County. A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@ Follow him on X @ETNRao. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County Council primary: Winarski, Wertz and Bayle win party nods
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Christina Vogel upsets Perry Wood to clinch Democratic nod for Erie County executive
Democrat Christina Vogel scored an upset victory on May 20 by defeating Perry Wood and clinching her party's nomination for Erie County executive. Vogel, 48, who was outraised by Wood's campaign by nearly $80,000, beat Wood by a 1,257-vote margin, according to vote totals released by the Erie County Elections and Voter Registration Office. As of 11:25 p.m. on May 20, Vogel received 13,353 votes over Wood's 12,096 votes, or 52.29% to 47.37%, of a total 25,537 votes, unofficial results showed, with all mail-in ballots and 100% of precincts reporting. Vogel, of Fairview, the owner of two Donatos Pizza locations and the first independent female franchisee in the company's history, will now face incumbent Republican Brenton Davis in the fall general election. Davis ran unopposed in the GOP primary, winning 94.16% of the vote with 12,667 total votes. "I never wanted to be a politician," Vogel told the Erie Times-News after her victory. "It was not something that I ever saw myself doing. But I believe in Erie County and I think that we need a change in the county executive's office. "I'm going to do what I did in the primary ― meet as many people as possible, meet them where they are, hear their challenges and determine what the county executive can do to fix that." Wood, 46, who serves as executive director of the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority, told the Erie Times-News the "people of Erie have spoken and now we need to unite behind Christina Vogel to change the course and future of Erie County government." Vogel's campaign during the primary appeared to face an uphill battle. Wood's campaign had raised $107,507 between Jan. 1 and May 5, compared to $27,846 raised by Vogel's campaign for the same reporting period. Wood had also been endorsed by County Council members Andre Horton, Chris Drexel and Rock Copeland, as well as former Erie County Executive Judy Lynch, former Erie Mayor Joyce Savocchio and Democratic state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro. Vogel was endorsed by former Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper, who had selected Vogel as an inaugural board member of the Erie County Community College in 2020. Vogel attributed her win to county voters valuing sincerity. "The overwhelming amount of support has been because people gravitate toward someone who is approachable, someone that they believe has their interests at heart," she said. "I've had great conversations with voters all along the way and I think that they are frustrated and ready for something different." Replay: Coverage from the Erie County municipal primary on May 20 Vogel has said her three core campaign priorities are strengthening the economy, making the government more efficient and investing in the community. She has pledged to expand opportunities for small businesses and workers by cutting red tape and ensuring workforce training programs align with the needs of employers. Vogel has also said she will also prioritize infrastructure, public safety and education, and bring a 'data-driven, results-oriented' approach to county government. Vogel provided her own startup capital to build two Donatos Pizza locations in Erie's Frontier neighborhood and in Harborcreek. She said she's paid more than $4 million in wages since opening and has more than 30 employees. Vogel said she's also donated more than $96,000 from her businesses to community organizations, including travel basketball teams, church daycares, robotics clubs and dozens of others through her Pizza with a Purpose fundraising program, She's worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the Office of Management and Budget for Illinois; and Country Financial in Illinois. Vogel majored in business administration and minored in economics at Illinois Wesleyan University. She also has a master's in business administration and journalism from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Vogel lives with her husband of more than 20 years, Erik, and their three children who attend Fairview schools. A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@ Follow him on X @ETNRao. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Christina Vogel wins Democratic primary for Erie County executive
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Verdict in Erie judge race to come in fall as Mosco and Lightner score party nominations
The three-way race for Erie County judge is down to two nominees. In a race in which one of the candidates could have won both party nominations and locked up the race, Emily Mosco Merski took the Democratic nomination and Jeremy Lightner took the Republican nomination, according to final unofficial vote totals the Erie County Elections and Voter Registration Office released at 11:28 p.m. on May 20. The total includes all mail-in ballots, the office said. The third candidate in the judge's race, Leigh Ann Orton, lost both nominations. Merski and Lightner will run against each other in the Nov. 4 municipal election for a seat on the nine-member Erie County Court of Common Pleas. Merski and Lightner are both registered Democrats who cross-filed on the Democratic and Republican ballots. Orton is a registered Republican who also cross-filed. With 100% of precincts reporting, Merski, a part-time assistant public defender for Erie County, received 15,100 votes on the Democratic ballot, or 58.2%, according to the unofficial totals. Lightner received 7,859 Democratic votes, or 30.29%, and Orton received 2,936 or 11.32%. On the Republican side, Lightner led with 5,801 votes, or 37.27%. Orton received 4,924 Republican votes, or 31.63%, and Merski received 4,806, or 30.87%. Merski, 42, is a part-time assistant public defender for Erie County who also has a private law practice. Lightner, 39, is one of two chief deputy district attorneys for Erie County. Both live in the city of Erie. More: Review coverage from the Erie County municipal primary Orton, 53, is the first assistant solicitor for Erie County. She lives in North East Township and unsuccessfully ran for judge in 2023. Merski was the only candidate who received a "recommended" rating in the Erie County Bar Association's lawyers' poll. Lightner and Orton both received "no rating." Merski and Lightner's campaigns both relied on personal loans and in-kind contributions for funding. Orton's campaign raised the least of the three, according to pre-primary campaign finance filings. The winner on Nov. 4 will fill the seat on the local bench that has been vacant since Judge Elizabeth K. Kelly retired in April 2024. Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@ or 814-870-1813. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Mosco, Lightner win nominations in judge's race, will compete in fall
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voters will pick new magistrate in Erie's 1st Ward after candidates split nominations
The race for magisterial district judge in Erie's 1st Ward will be decided in the fall. Christine Rush took the Democratic nomination over Paul "P.J." Monella by 594 to 264 votes, or 69.23% to 30.77%, with 100% of precincts reporting, according to unofficial totals the Erie County Elections and Voter Registration Office released at 10:21 p.m. on May 20. Monella is the only candidate on the Republican ballot. He cross-filed as a Democrat and Republican. He received 175 votes on the Republican ballot, according to the latest totals. The winner of the race on Nov. 4 will take the seat that opened up with the pending retirement of Sue Mack, the 1st Ward district judge since she was first appointed in 2001. She is retiring at the end of the year after completing her fourth six-year term. The 1st Ward covers the lower east side. More: Coverage from the May 20 municipal primary in Erie County Rush is the longtime district director for state Rep. Patrick Harkins, of Erie, D-1st Dist. Monella is chief of staff for state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, D-3rd Dist., which includes Millcreek and Fairview townships. Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@ or 814-870-1813. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Rush, Monella to face off in November for 1st Ward district judge seat
