Newcomers easily won their party's nominations to five 4-year terms on the Palmerton Area school board.

The election results come on the heels of a 12.6-percent property tax increase.The total Democratic votes: Tammy L. Recker, 717; Josann M. Harry, 635; Sherry A. Cseh White, 520; Joshua C. Smale, 475; Charles C. Gildner, 459; incumbent Michael J. Ballard, 424; incumbent Stuart R. Henritzy, 400, and incumbent Carl Bieling Jr., 390. There were also six Democratic write-in votes, according to unofficial results.Total Republican votes: Recker, 518; Harry, 454; Smale, 403; White, 400; Gildner, 376; Ballard, 342; Bieling, 335, and Henritzy, 308. There were also 16 Republican write-in votes.The names of the write-in candidates have yet to be released.