Election Results Are In: What Do They Mean?

When it comes to a presidential election, there isn\’t much analysis to do after the results are in.

The media has spent months upon months pouring over the candidates\’ platforms by the time the first Tuesday in November comes around.

But when it comes to municipal elections, things can be a little more murky.

Party politics don\’t translate as clearly on a local level as they do on a national scale, so what does a strong Democratic win in the borough, county, and even the state mean for you? 

BOROUGH COUNCIL:

Photo by Zach Berger // StateCollege.com

Five candidates faced off for four seats on the borough council. Ron Madrid, the lone Republican, was defeated by an incumbent independent in Catherine Dauler and three State College political newcomers in Democratic candidates Janet Engeman, Jesse Barlow, and David J. Brown.

So how will this affect governance in the borough? If the candidates stay true to their platforms: not much. All five candidates, despite differing party affiliations, held similar campaign platforms.

They all agreed that the primary issue facing the borough is the budget crisis — in which State College will need to start generating additional revenue in the near future. They, for the most part, collectively felt that re-zoning on a microscopic level isn\’t preferable, and would like to implement more comprehensive zoning changes going forward as the borough explores development. 

As for town and gown issues, some of the candidates strongly stated that students should be treated as equal residents of the borough, while others said that council has to govern for those who live here long-term, not those who are temporary residents of State College. That subject has always been a point of contention on council, especially in recent years, with some council members strongly supporting the borough\’s student population and others viewing them as a disruption. It looks like that will continue to be the case going forward.

As for the makeup of the board, two council members hit term limits, those being council president James Rosenberger and Peter Morris. Both ran as independents and it can be said that they were left-leaning but level-headed members of council. Sarah Klinetob, a Democrat who was the board\’s youngest member and the highest vote-earner in the 2011 election, chose not to run for reelection. 

Catherine Dauler, who won her reelection bid on Tuesday, will rejoin council members Evan Myers, Theresa Lafer, and Thomas Daubert. This means that council will remain entirely run by Democrats and Independents. 

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS:

Photo by Michael Martin Garrett // StateCollege.com

Things get more interesting when taking a look at the makeup of the county commissioners board, which was controlled by two Republicans until Tuesday\’s election. Democrat incumbent Michael Pipe took the most votes, with his running mate of sorts — Democrat Mark Higgins — placing second. Republican incumbent Steve Dershem rounded out the three-man board, with incumbent Republican Chris Exarchos losing his reelection bid.

The Centre County political scene has been rife with controversy and contention in recent months. One of the key issues has been government transparency, and Pipe seemed to be in the minority when it came to his fight for more transparent governance in Bellefonte.

\”From the beginning, this campaign has been about bringing people together to solve the problems facing Centre County,\” Pipe said after the results came in. \”Our message to voters was simple: you have a choice between continuing business as usual in Bellefonte or electing a new majority committed to a transparent government that works for them.\”

\”Tonight’s results make it clear: people in Centre County want a government that is accountable to them, not donors, lobbyists, and special interests,\” he added. \”The voters have recognized that we need to end campaigning in county facilities, ban gifts from lobbyists to county officials, and to hold more meetings in public. That’s why they voted for Mark and me and that is what we will do as commissioners.\”

Higgins brings experience as a business turn-around specialist to a commissioners board that inherits the issue of no state funding until there\’s a state budget. The board also inherits the ongoing county crisis, in which its district attorney is suing county officials and right-to-know requests are being debated in the court system.

With a Democrat-controlled board, Pipe will now have a chance to try things his way.

\”With tonight’s victory, we can begin to restore trust and confidence in Centre County Government,\” he said. \”I can’t do it alone. I’m asking for your help as we continue to move Centre County.\”

THE JUDICIARY:

Photo of Harrisburg\’s Pennsylvania Judicial Center via Wikimedia Commons

In the Centre County Court of Common Pleas, Democrat Katie Oliver will replace Bradley Lunsford, who surprised many with his decision to retire amid allegations of impropriety and removing documents from public files. 

Oliver beat out Republican opponent Ron McGlaughlin for the judicial seat. Both candidates expressed similar viewpoints on the county court crisis, stating that as judges they will simply need to do their jobs and hear cases and offer impartial rulings. They each expressed a desire to restore faith in the county court system. 

“Obviously, there have been a lot of challenges and unfortunately, I have to say, there’s a lack of confidence in our court at this point,” Oliver said in September. “I want to repair that loss of confidence. The way to do that is come to court ready to focus on the issues and cases people need help resolving, to hear and decide cases in fair way, and to play by the rules.”

Oliver brings experience in resolving disputes to the court. She has served as a pro-bono mediator for the United States Middle District Court of Pennsylvania, where she helps parties resolve disputes instead of going to court. 

“That’s something that’s been extremely fulfilling, because you come at case in a different way than you do as an advocate, similar to what you need to do as a judge,” Oliver said. “I’m prepared to work hard, and I believe very much in bringing a fair and impartial perspective to our court.”

The other major judicial election for residents not just in State College and Centre County, but the entire commonwealth, came in the state Supreme Court. There were three positions up for grabs on the bench, and the three Democratic candidates in the race earned those seats.

The victory by Chirstine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht give the Dems a 5-2 stranglehold on the bench, with major issues like fracking, redistricting, and the death penalty on the horizon. This major shakeup turned a Supreme Court that had been red since 2010.