The contests in the Municipal Primary Election to be held in Schuylkill County on Tuesday, May 21, are centered in boroughs and townships with the nominations for mayor, councilman, supervisor, school director, and tax collector according to the petitions filed in the county election bureau.

The deadline has passed for persons to get their name on the ballot and Election Director Frannie Brennan reminds the candidates if any wish to withdraw their name the deadline is Wednesday, March 27. The last day to register to vote for the primary election is April 22.There are contests only for two county offices this year, sheriff and district attorney, and there is no contest in the primary election.Democrats Sheriff Joseph G. Groody is seeking re-election to his second four year term and District Attorney Karen Byrnes Noon to her first four year term. Both have no opposition.On the Republican ballot, Patrick M. Reynolds, a former military policeman, is the candidate for sheriff and Assistant County Solicitor Christine A. Holman is making her second run for district attorney. They also are unopposed.Both Democrat incumbents obtained their offices by appointments. Groody, a former police officer in Ashland, was appointed sheriff in 2008 to replace Francis McAndrew who was elected county commissioner. In 2009 Groody ran for his first full term. Noon was the first assistant district attorney and moved up to become district attorney two years ago when James P. Goodman vacated the job to become a county judge. She is making her first bid to be elected to a four year term.The announced retirement of District Judge Carol A. Pancake in Magisterial District 21-03-04, whose district comprises of boroughs of Pine Grove, Tower City and Tremont and townships of Barry, Branch, Cass, Eldred, Foster, Frailey, Hegins and Hubley, has open up that position. Her term expires at the end of December.Four candidates are seeking her post, David J. Ross, Laine Mack, Keith Hoppes, and Daniel L. Daub. They all are running on the Democratic and Republican ballots as they are permitted to crossfileThere are four candidates running for a seat on the Pennsylvania Superior Court with one to be nominated on each ballot.Running for the Republican nomination are Vic Stabile, Middlesex County, and Robert Wyda, Bethel County. Seeking the Democratic nod are Jack McVay Jr., Pittsburgh, and Joseph C. Waters Jr., Philadelphia.Local officesThe candidates who filed for local offices in area boroughs and townships were as follows:Blythe Township: All candidates are running on the Democrat ballot as no Republicans filed.Supervisor, six year term, James Zembas; Tax Collector, four year term, Joan Dranginis; Auditor, six year term, Michele M. Zembas; Judge of Election, Diana L. Kutan; Inspector of Election, Dorothy Pelachick.Coaldale: There is a contest for council on the Democratic ballot.Mayor, four year term, Richard R. Kellner (R); Joel Johnson (D); Tax Collector, four year term, Catherine M. Papesh (D), no Republican candidate; Council, four year term, elect three, Harry R. Hontz Jr., Linda A. Miller and David J. Yelito (R), no contest; Vincent R. Miller Sr., Thomas Polischak, Angela Krapf, and John J. Sherbin, (D)., elect three; Council, two year term, elect one, Brenda L. Hosler (R), no Democrat candidate; East Precinct, Judge of Election, Brenda L. Hosler (R); no Democrat; Inspectors of Election, Raymond Swankoski, (R) no Democrat; West Precinct, no candidates for judge and two inspectors.Delano Township: No Republican candidates for tax collector or auditor. Supervisor, six year term, Jason Scarcella (R) and John S. Wolfgang, (D); Tax Collector, four year term, Ann Pascavage (D) no Republican candidate; Audtior, six year term, Nancy J. Derr (D), no Republican candidate; Judge of Election, four year term, Marie M. Cunningham (D); Inspectors of Election, Audrey Walter (R) and Sharon Kuropatsky (D).East Brunswick Township: Only one candidate filed and it was for supervisor, six year term, Thomas W. Strause (R). No candidates from either party filed for tax collector, auditor for six year, four year and two year terms; and judge of election, and two inspector posts. The judge and two inspectors man the voting place.Kline Township: A contest for tax collector on the Democratic ballot. Supervisor, six year term, Dale A. Wesner (R) and Joseph Landue (D); Tax Collector, four year term, Stephen J. Sheer (R), Suzanne Fenkner, Diane Minneci, and Andrew M. McAloose (D); Auditor, six year term, Melanie M. Wallace (R), no Democrat filed; Auditor, two year term, Bruce Yourechko Jr., (D), no Republican filed; Judge of Election, Carol Sanko (R); Inspectors of Election, Roseann Vigna (R), and Eugene Moisey (D).McAdoo: There is a contest for council on the Democratic ballot. Mayor, four year term, Dane Watro (R), Stephan R. Holly (D); Tax Collector, four year term, Terry Sissick Kupres (R); Andrew T. Debalko, (D; Council, four year term, elect three, Jason Trimmel, Brian Welch, and Edward J. Bielen Sr. (R); Brian Kolbush, Mark Liszka, John Kolbush, Joseph A. Madochick, John J. Shigo, and Robert S. Wells (D); First Precinct, Judge of Election, Debbie Stefanisko (D); Inspectors of Elections, Georgine P. Borchick (R) and Patricia A.Kott (D). Second Precinct, Judge of Election, Sally A. Updike (D); Inspectors of Elections, Magaret M. Miller (R) and Robert J. Laylo (D).Middleport: There is a contest for council on the Democratic ballot. Mayor, John Leshko (R); Carol A. Oswald (D); Tax Collector, Marian Donlin (D), no Republican filed; Council, four year term, elect three, Wendy Dempsey, and Scott T. Jones (R); Eugene Heisner, Joseph Skripko, John R. DiFilippo Jr. and Joseph A. Rolenaitis (D); No candidates filed for judge of election or for two inspector seats.New Philadelphia: Short on candidates for council. Mayor, Hunter Rulavage (R); Frances Gates Tkach (D); Tax Collector, Robert J. Frantz, (D), no Republican filed; Council, four year term, elect four, Christine Carey and Dennis A. Faust (D), two seats vacant and no Republicans filed; Judge of Election, Josephine A. Yeneshosky (D); Inspectors of Election, Anna Williams (R) no Democrat filed.Rush Township: Contest for supervisor on Republican ballot. Supervisor, six year term, elect one, Shawn Gilbert, William D. Boyer, and Walter Taylor (R); no Democrat filed; Tax Collector, Dolores Walck (R), no Democrat filed; Auditor, six year term, no candidates; East District, No candidates filed for judge of election or two inspector seats; Elixir District, Judge of Election, Kathleen A. Arner (D), no candidates for two inspector posts; West District, Judge of Election, Catherine A. Klingaman (R); Inspectors, Judith Mogish, (R); Paula Konsavage.Ryan Township: No contest but there is a shortage of candidates. Supervisor, six year term, Franklin R. Fetter (R), no Democrat filed; Tax Collector, Mary T. Peca (D), no Republican filed; Auditor, six year term, no candidates; Judge of Election, Christine H. Wartman, (R); Inspectors of Election, Judith A. Sanchez, (R) no Democrat filed.Schuylkill Township: Contest for supervisor on Democrat ballot. Supervisor, six year term, Charles J. Fayash (R); Linda A. Decindio, and Andrew J. Fayash, Jr. (D); Tax Collector, Paul Delpais (R), no Democrat candiate; Auditor, six year term, no candidates; Judge of Election, Barbara Facini Folweiler (R); Inspectors of Election, Jean Duda Miller, (D) no Republican candidate.Tamaqua: Contests for tax collector and council on Republican ballot. Mayor, Christian P. Morrison (D) no Republican candidate; Tax Collector, elect one, Pamela J. McCullen, and Dale W. Freudenberger (R) no Democrat candidate; Council, four years. elect three, John Trudich Jr., David Mace, Micah Gursky, and Justin Startzel (R), no Democrat candidates; Council, two years, elect one, Micah Gursky, Jack Kulp, and Dan Evans (R), no Democrat candidates; Auditor, six years, no candidates; First Precinct, Judge of Election, Grace E. Sakusky; Inspectors of Election, Kathleen S. Keefer (R), and Dian L. Fudge (D); Second Precinct, Judge of Election, no candidates for judge or inspectors; Third Precinct, Judge of Election, Linda Yulanavage (R); Inspectors of Election, Eileen L. Barron (R), John Malarkey (D); Fourth Precinct, no candidates for judge or inspectors.Walker Township: No Democrat candidates for supervisor or tax collector. Supervisor, six year term, David Price (R); Tax Collector, four year term, Diane Yvonne Malay (R); Judge of Election, Susanne Heisler (R); Inspectors of Election, June B. Leiby (R), and Mary L. Bridygham (D).West Penn Township: Contest for supervisor on Republican ballot. Supervisor, six year term, elect one, Ted Bogosh and Harry Barron (R), no Democrat candidates; Tax Collector, Helen Zeigler (R) no Democrat candidate; First District, Judge of Election, no candidates; Inspectors of Elections, Diana L. Snyder (R), Anita L. Zehner (D); Second District, Judge of Election, Rebecca L. Zehner (R); Inspectors of Election, Marian S. Frantz (R), Warren W. Steigerwalt (D); Third District, no candidates for judge or inspectors.In the nomination of school directors candidates can filed on both Republican and Democratic ballots.Blue Mountain AreaThere are five candidates for four seats for four year term. Herman Rolbert Fligge, Gerald A. Ravitaz, Dean Gherghel, Mary Jo Moss, Anne Usuka, and Timothy G. Grube, all crossfiled.Mahanoy AreaThere are eight candidates for four seats. Larry Levy, Mary Agnes Dicasimirro, Cindy Loughlin, Jay Hanley, Julie J. Fazio, Colleen J. Sullivan Coleman, Steven Gnall, and Karen E. Yedsena. All cross filed.Tamaqua AreaThere are four seats to be filled but only three candidates. They are Bryan W. Miller, Aaron R. Frantz, and Thomas A. Rottet, all cross filed.Director Brennan announced she is awaiting the list of candidates who filed in Carbon County Election Bureau for the list of candidates who filed for seats on the Panther Valley Area School District's school board which includes Coaldale in Schuylkill County; and from Luzerne County Election Bureau for candidates who filed for Hazleton Area School District's school board which includes McAdoo and Kline Township, East Union Township, and North Union Township in Schuylkill County.