• Centre County Polling Places: Where to Vote
A presidential election without an incumbent brings out the voters, and here in Centre County, the race between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton for leadership of the country has registration numbers at an all-time high.
According to Joyce McKinley, director of elections, as of Oct. 28 there were 121,629 registered voters in Centre County. On Nov. 1, at the Centre County board of commissioners meeting, she reported there were 123,204 registered voters in the county.
“To my knowledge, that’s the most registered voters we’ve ever had,” she said. “People are definitely interested in this year’s election.”
During the last presidential election, in 2012, Centre County had 101,000 registered voters, and in 2008, during a year without an incumbent, just more than 106,000 were registered.
In April, Centre County knew numbers would be high when 109,701 people were registered to vote. Since then, nearly 12,000 have submitted voter registration requests.
McKinley said that increase in numbers all but guarantees a record-setting voter turnout percentage as well.
“We anticipate the polls will be very, very busy this year,” she said. “But we’re ready. We’ll definitely be ready.”
Although most of the voting eyes will be on the presidential election, Centre County voters have some key races in the House of Representatives, as well as a congressional district race, to decide.
Incumbent Republican Glenn “G.T.” Thompson will attempt to retain his seat as congressman of the 5th Congressional District against Democratic challenger Kerith Strano Taylor.
Thompson, a Howard Township resident, spent 28 years in the health care field prior to being elected. Thompson is basing his campaign on rectifying issues with unemployment, underemployment and low workforce participation.
Taylor is family law attorney from Brookville. Taylor believes lowering the unemployment rate in the district should be a No. 1 priority and more efforts need to be focused on the opioid epidemic facing not just the 5th District, but also all of Pennsylvania.
[Interviews with Thompson and Taylor]
Incumbent Mike Hanna, a Democrat, looks to retain his seat as state representative of the 76th Legislative District against Republican challenger Stephanie Borowicz.
Hanna, a lifelong resident of Clinton County, has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1991. He said property tax reform is a priority in the 76th District, and also noted issues with low employment rates and the opioid epidemic.
Borowicz, a former fourth-grade teacher, is a staunch defender of the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms. She believes there is too much political correctness and government intrusion into the lives of the people of the district, and vows to work hard to defend privacy.
[Interviews with Hanna and Borowicz]
H. Scott Conklin, who has cross-filed as a Democrat and Republican, will appear unopposed on the ballot for the 77th Legislative District. The incumbent is from Philipsburg and has been a House member since 2006. He believes the biggest issues facing his district are the lack of family sustaining jobs, lack of adequate education funding and proper stewardship of natural resources.
Incumbent Republican Rich Irvin will look to retain his 81st Legislative District seat against Democratic challenger Rick Rogers.
Irvin began service in the House in 2014 and has previous experience as a Huntingdon County treasurer and tax claim director. He is basing his campaign on increasing the availability of family sustaining jobs and reducing the corporate tax rate.
Rogers is a retired U.S. Army major with 27 years of military service, which included a time in Vietnam. He has experience as a community developer and said a stagnant economy and slow job growth are the biggest issues currently facing the district.
[Interviews with Irvin and Rogers]
Incumbent Republican Kerry Benninghoff faces a challenge from Democrat Melody Fleck for the seat in the 171st Legislative District.
Benninghoff, a fiscal conservative, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1996. The Bellefonte resident claims the biggest issues facing his district include more secure, family-sustaining employment and quality, affordable housing.
Fleck, from Ferguson Township, is a retired attorney and State College Borough solicitor. She said the 171st District needs to restore a strong economy and job market.
[Interviews with Benninghoff and Fleck]
There are also handful of federal- and state-level races worthy of attention.
Three candidates will appear on the ballot for U.S. senator, including Democrat Katie McGinty, Republican Pat Toomey and Libertarian Edward T. Clifford III. Democrat Josh Shapiro and Republican John Rafferty will battle for the attorney general position.
Four candidates are vying for the auditor general position, including Democrat Eugene DePasquale, Republican John Brown, Libertarian Roy A. Minet and Green Party candidate John J. Sweeney.
[Interviews with DePasquale and Brown]
Four candidates will also appear on the ballot for state treasurer, including Democrat Joe Torsella, Republican Otto Voit, Libertarian James Babb and Green Party candidate Kristin Combs.
There will also be a referendum question appearing on the ballot concerning a proposed Constitutional amendment. Voters will be asked if the state Constitution should be amended to require that justices of the Supreme Court, judges and magisterial district judges be retired on the last day of the calendar year in which they attain the age of 75. The current mandatory retirement age is 70.
