'Phlegm'ocracy

Sun shines, apathy reigns in Primaries

 

Of all the results being analyzed from Tuesday's primary election, the issue that's drawing much of the attention is not so much who won but, instead, who stayed home.

Community leaders are wondering why -- on a warm, sunny day -- did the majority of registered voters in Cameron and Potter counties not turn out for an election that will have a direct impact on their taxes, their children's education, and myriad other local and county issues?

The situation is aggravated by the fact that roughly half of the adult population isn't registered to vote. The result is inescapable: a small minority of citizens are deciding critical public policy issues, running counter to the democratic system of representational government.

Cameron County saw a voter turnout of 37.5%, and that was one of the highest figures in the region. In Potter County, about Commissioners in Potter County angered voters with their decision to move county offices into a building that was given to them. 36 percent of registered voters turned out. In McKean, the count was just 26 percent.

Voters in Potter County, who were poised to remove the incumbent board of commissioners, took two steps in that direction on Tuesday.

Two political newcomers, Doug Morley and Paul Heimel, won the Republican nominations over incumbent John Torok. Unofficial vote count was 1,683 for Morley, 1,572 for Heimel and 1,135 for Torok.

On the Democratic side, former commissioner Susan Kefover topped the field with 659 votes, while incumbent Cathy Bowers landed the other nomination with 502. The other incumbent, board chaiman Ken Wingo, was a distant third with 351.

Morley, Heimel, Kefover and Bowers will appear on the November ballot to determine which trio takes office for a four-year term in January.

In Cameron County, Republican Glen Fiebig was the only incumbent seeking re-election and he earned a ballot spot in November by collecting 276 votes. JoAnn Smith was the top Republican finisher with 402.

Failing in their bids for a Republican nomination were Ron Hammersley (237), Barry Brown (164), Don Reed (154), Patrick Vogt (114), Tonya Aversa (30) and write-in candidate Keith Summerson (total not available).

Smith and Fiebig will be joined on the November ballot by Democratic nominees Phil Jones and Thomas Callahan. Jones had 288 votes, Callahan received 258 and a third candidate, Nick Botera Jr., had 131. Summerson made a strong showing in Democratic writein votes, but still fell short.

The official, certified vote count will be released following the legally required review by each county's canvassing and computing board.