Third Clearfield County Commissioner Spot Hangs in the Balance
CLEARFIELD – During Tuesday’s municipal election, candidates jockeyed for positions as Clearfield County District Attorney and Commissioners.
In the race for District Attorney, Democratic incumbent William A. Shaw Jr. was defeated by local attorney and Republican challenger, Ryan Sayers. Shaw has been in office since 2004.
Sayers claimed a convincing victory with 9,191 votes, or 54.06 percent, while Shaw received 7,796 votes, or 45.86 percent.
“… The voters of Clearfield County have spoken,” Sayers said in a phone interview Tuesday night with GANT News. “They’ve clearly mandated for a change.
“I think they want an office run with more integrity, which I promised throughout my campaign and which I plan to do once I take office [in January].”
However, he said his victory was a total “team effort,” as he gave credit to the county’s Republican committee including chairwoman Susan Williams, fellow candidates and his family.
He thanked the voters who have shown an outpouring of support in recent months and at the polls Election Day despite the chilly temperatures and drizzle.
Sayers also thanked the current district attorney for his years of service, and added he will work with Shaw over the next two months to ensure a smooth change in leadership.
The commissioner candidates included incumbents John A. Sobel and Tony Scotto, Republican running mates. They were joined on the ballot by Dave Glass and Lisa Kovalick, both Democrats.
Sobel (9,424 votes) and Scotto (8,983 votes) were both re-elected to the commissioners’ office. Sobel was first elected in 2008 and Scotto in 2016.
However, the third spot for the commissioners’ office still hangs in the balance as of 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, according to Board of Elections Chairman Mark B. McCracken.
He said election machines in Coalport weren’t closed out correctly so vote totals couldn’t be retrieved. The machines will be brought back Wednesday so IT Director Adam Curry can retrieve the votes.
“There are 96 ballots that were voted in Coalport,” McCracken said. “The only race hanging in the balance is the third commissioner spot with 69 of 70 precincts and all absentees counted.”
Currently, Glass (6,396 votes, or 20.49 percent) leads Kovalick by a narrow margin of 53 votes. Kovalick has 6,343 votes, or 20.32 percent.
In other races, Coroner Kim Shaffer Snyder, Republican, defeated Olivia Cutler, Democrat. Shaffer Snyder received 11,674 votes, or 69.86 percent.
County Treasurer Carol A. Fox, Democrat/Republican, and Register and Recorder Maurene E. Inlow, Republican, were unopposed for re-election.
All results are unofficial until certified by the Clearfield County Board of Elections. Click here to view the county’s complete 2019 Municipal Election results.
