Pipe Wins Spot on Centre Co. Commissioner Ballot

After running unsuccessfully for Congress in 2010 a year after graduating from Penn State, Michael Pipe set his sights a bit lower this year. But aiming carefully, Pipe apparently brought down an incumbent and, at age 25, will appear on November’s ballot for the Centre County Board of Commissioners.

If Tuesday’s results hold up, Pipe will join fellow Democrat and incumbent commissioner Chairman Jon Eich, incumbent Republican Steven Dershem and former commissioner chairman Chris Exarchos, also a Republican, in November’s contest for the three-seat board.

In a primary election marked by a low voter turnout, the finish was high drama.

According to unofficial returns, Pipe edged out incumbent Commissioner Rich Rogers by 30 votes – 2,808 or 19.72 percent to 2,778 or 19.51 percent. Those results are unofficial, and the outcome could hinge on the 255 write-in votes cast.

When reached at his Bellefonte home around midnight, Rogers sounded subdued but willing to accept the apparent outcome.

‘That’s what I’m looking at,’ he said of his apparent narrow defeat.

‘I’m disappointed,’ Rogers said, ‘but I’m thankful for the people who supported me today and who supported me in the past in trying to do what’s right for the people of Centre County and not play political games.’

While the turnout – unofficially 24.84 percent among Democrats, 21.35 percent among Republicans and 23.19 percent overall countywide – was less than Rogers expected, he said, ‘The voters have spoken, and that’s why we have a democracy.’

Eich won the Democratic contest with 4,317 votes (30.32 percent), unofficially. Jeff Steiner finished fourth with 16.07 percent, and David Koll was fifth with 12.60 percent.

Dershem and Exarchos handily won the Republican primary: Dershem collected 5,590 votes (28.39 percent) while Exarchos received 4,776 votes (24.25 percent), according to the unofficial totals. Hope Miller finished a distant third with 2,045 votes (10.38 percent), followed closely by former Commissioner Sue Mascolo with 2,031 votes (10.31 percent).

Pipe, a Ferguson Township resident who works as assistant manager of a Five Guys Burgers and Fries in State College, said he wasn’t really surprised by Tuesday’s apparent outcome.

‘I learned a lot from the last campaign,’ Pipe said. ‘I was out knocking on doors and making phone calls. That one-on-one contact is what’s important.’

Neither was Eich surprised at Pipe’s strong showing.

‘I know Mike has worked hard,’ Eich said. ‘People have taken to him, and he is well liked by a lot of people.’

Unlike many of the candidates, Eich wasn’t watching the posting of results or tallying votes Tuesday evening. He was out removing his political signs from supporters’ yards.

‘I guess I’m just a workaholic,’ he said.

Work – more precisely working together – was the theme for the Republican winners, Dershem and Exarchos.

‘We worked together well in our last term together,’ Dershem said of his November running mate. ‘We’ve had a great past and we have a great future. People know that we can work together to get it done.’

Exarchos echoed that sentiment.

‘Steve and I have worked well together to get things done for the people of Centre County,’ Exarchos said.

Exarchos also worked hard in the current campaign, something he said he did not do – certainly not as much – when he lost his commissioner seat four years ago.

‘This time I went out there and asked people for their votes,’ Exarchos said. ‘I worked pretty hard for them and they responded to that.’

Dershem called Tuesday’s voter turnout ‘marginal,’ and with the rainy weather, made for ‘a tough race.’

‘I’m honored that the voters of Centre County continue to support me,’ Dershem said.

Pipe said he is looking to carry the support shown him into the fall’s general-election campaign.

‘A lot of things need to be fixed in Centre County and in the country,’ he said. ‘If your parents don’t come from money or you’re not related to someone famous, it’s hard to get to the top of the ladder. But I really want to make a difference in people’s lives.’

Tuesday’s unofficial results certainly made a difference in his.

Related coverage

• StateCollege.com’s politics page