By DEN MCLAUGHLIN

dmclaughlin@tnonline.comMaria Casey, Theresa S. Santai-Gaffney and Linda Gallo Marchalk won the Republican nominations for three row office seats that were challenged in Tuesday's primary election.The three defeated challengers for the nod and will face Democratic hopefuls in the fall. Other county office seats up for election Tuesday were uncontested for both parties.Casey defeated New Ringgold resident Larry Padora for the clerk of courts nomination. Casey gathered 5,037 votes to 4,907 for Padora. Incumbent Democrat Stephen M. Lukach Jr. resigned from office last year after it was reported his office was under investigation for alleged misappropriation of funds in the office.She will face off against Democrat Catherine Mahon in the fall. Mahon was unopposed and received 6,731 votes.Incumbent Santai-Gaffney defeated a challenge from Kerry L. Ansbach on Tuesday. She received 5,009 votes to 4,903 for Ansbach. She is seeking a second, four-year term.Her Democratic challenger is Frank DiMarco, who received 6,685 votes.In the third challenged race for county treasurer Marchalk defeated Albert L. Gricoski, 5,466 to 4,435. Incumbent and longtime county treasurer, Republican JacquelineV. McGovern, did not seek another term.Marchalk's opponent in the fall will be Democrat Brett M. Clark, who ran unopposed and received 6,713 votes.Republican incumbent controller, Christy Joy, was unopposed and received 9,626 votes. There was no Democrat running for the office.Incumber Republican David J. Dutcavich received 9,041 unopposed votes for prothonotary.He will face off against Democrat Leo Securda, who received 6,818 unopposed votes.Incumbent record of deeds, Republican Ann Dudish was unopposed and received 9,259 votes. She is finishing the term of her late husband, A. Matthew Dudish, who died June 26, 2014.She will be challenged in the fall by Democrat Gina Warhola. Warhola received 6,688 unopposed votes.Incumbent Republican coroner Dr. David J. Moylan was unopposed and received 9,253 votes.His challenger in the fall will be Democrat James A. Nettle, who received 6,644 unopposed votes.CommissionersThere were no races for the nomination for county commissioners.Incumbent Republicans Frank Staudenmeier and George F. Halcovage were unopposed for another four year term. Halcovage led the ticket with 8,407 votes to 8,053 for Staudenmeier.They will be challenged in the fall by incumbent Democrat Gary J. Hess and his running mate Joe Devine. Hess led the way Tuesday with 6,632 votes and 5,986 for Devine.Three will be elected in the fall.District judgesTwo of the county's district judges are up for election this year and the two incumbents were unopposed Tuesday and both cross-filed and are now assured of another six-year term.David A. Plachko, of Port Carbon, received 1,674 Democratic votes and 1,208 Republican. He Magistrate District is 21-3-01.Anthony J. Kilker, of Shenandoah, received 913 Democratic votes and 577 Republican for Magistrate District 21-2-05.State racesSchuylkill County voters also cast ballots for state judgeships.Openings on Commonwealth, Superior and Supreme courts were up for nomination Tuesday.On the Democratic side county voters supported Todd Eagen for a seat on Commonwealth court. He received 4,615 votes to 2,350 for Michael Wojcik.On the GOP side Paul Lalley was unopposed and received 8,250 vote.For Superior Court, one seat to be elected, Alice Beck Dubow defeated Robert Colville in the county for the Demo nod. She received 4,479 votes to 2,613 for Colville. On the GOP side Emil Giordano got 8,271 unopposed votes.There was a full field of candidates for three nominations for the Supreme Court.On the Democratic side county voters supported Christine Donohue with 4,854, Kevin M. Dougherty 4,252 and Anne E. Lazarus 3,713. The next three finishers were David Wecht 2,686, John Henry Foradora 1,838 and Dwayne D. Woodruff 13,97.On the GOP side there were six candidates for three nominations. The county's top three choices were Anne Covey 5,166, Correale Stevens 4,503 and Mike George 4,396. The other finishers were Judy Olson 4,291, Rebecca Warren 3,673 and Cheryl Allen 2,491.Light turnoutOnly 26 plus percent of registered voters turned out to cast ballots Tuesday. Despite the light turnout, it was up slightly from last year.There were 72,919 registered voters eligible to vote Tuesday with 19,546 Republicans and Democrats voting.