A Republican contest for the nomination for a four-year term as Carbon County Clerk of Courts is the only challenged Carbon County position on the primary election ballot this year. Voters in the county’s 51 election precincts can vote from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

The challenged race is between the incumbent, Tyra Boni of Franklin Township, and challenger Sydney Wernett of Jim Thorpe. There is no Democratic candidate.

There are three county row offices to be filled by the electorate this year. Besides the clerk of courts position, they are treasurer and register of wills and clerk of the orphans’ court, the latter being a dual office. All are for four-year terms.

Clerk’s race

Boni was elected to the clerk’s office in 2019 when a two-year term was up for grabs due to the resignation of embattled former clerk William McGinley. The latter was sentenced to a state prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges relating to his theft of funds from the office.

Following his resignation, Francine Heaney of Nesquehoning assumed directorship of the office upon her appointment by Gov. Tom Wolf and confirmation by the state Senate. Boni defeated her two years ago.

Register is unopposed

The current register of wills and clerk of the orphans’ court is Jean Papay of Palmerton, who won her first four-year term in 2017, defeating Democrat Deborah Gigliotti of Summit Hill, who had been serving as the first deputy in that office.

Papay is not only unopposed within her party but also has no opposition from the Democratic Party.

Treasurer retiring

Current Treasurer Ronald J. Sheehan of Jim Thorpe is retiring at the end of this year, leaving the race for that position without an incumbent. Heaney is seeking the Democratic nomination while the Republican candidate is Kevin Zelinka of Palmerton.

State judges

This year’s primary also has three races for positions on the state appellate courts, including Justice of the Supreme Court and judges of the Superior and Commonwealth courts.

In the Supreme Court race, one person is to be elected to a 10-year term. There are three GOP candidates, including Paula Patrick, Kevin Brobson and Patricia McCullough. The winner of that statewide balloting will face Democrat Maria McLaughlin, who is unopposed on the Democratic ticket.

Pennsylvania voters will also elect one person to serve a 10-year term on the Superior Court. There are three Democrats - Jill Beck, Timika Lane and Bryan Neft - and one Republican, Megan Sullivan, seeking their parties’ nominations.

Two Commonwealth Court judgeships will also be filled for 10-year terms. Democratic candidates include David Lee Spurgeon, Lori A. Dumas, Sierra Street and Amanda Green Hawkins, while the GOP slate includes Drew Crompton and Stacy Marie Wallace.

Unopposed magistrate

There is one Magisterial District Judge position open this time around. It is in District 56-3-04, where Judge Joseph D. Homanko Sr. has held the post for many years. He is running for re-election and is the lone candidate on both the Democratic and Republican ballots. The position is a six-year term.

Voters in Beaver Meadows, East Side and Weatherly borough and Banks, Kidder Township, Lausanne, Lehigh and Packer Township will participate in that balloting.