Northampton County Democrats appear to sweep key contests in Tuesday’s election
Panella holds large lead in judicial election; Zrinski also ahead in controller’s contest
Democrats appeared to sweep key Northampton County offices, holding sizable leads in Tuesday’s elections for judge and controller and retaking control of county council, according to unofficial returns posted early Wednesday.
Democrat Brian Panella led the way in his contest with Republican Nancy Aaroe for a seat on the Court of Common Pleas, with a 37,083 to 30,758 advantage.
In a battle between county council members over who would be the next controller, Democrat Tara Zrinski led Republican John Cusick, 36,809 to 30,717.
Panella and Zrinski captured 54% of the vote in their elections. A judge serves a 10-year term, and the controller a four-year term.
The county indicated all 156 precincts reported results, but the vote totals for those and all county races will change in the next few days. That’s when election workers will tally emergency and provisional paper ballots that were used for a couple hours Tuesday morning.
Shortly after the polls opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday, election officials discovered a “clerical” problem in the 300-plus voting machines involving only two state Superior Court retention questions. County officials said Tuesday afternoon that they did not know how many of those paper ballots were used. All election results reported Tuesday night are unofficial.
As judicial candidates, Panella and Aaroe cross-filed in the May 16 primary. Panella won his party’s nomination with 57% of the vote (13,145 to 10,005), while Aaroe won the GOP nod with 70% (10,950 to 4,730).
Aaroe and Panella touted their different experiences as giving one an edge over the other.
Aaroe, 58, of Bethlehem Township, worked more than 10 years as a public defender in Monroe County, as an assistant district attorney and as a court-appointed conflicts counsel in Northampton County. During that time, in 1996, she joined her husband, Paul, at Aaroe Law Offices, and still works there.
Panella, 32, of Palmer Township, has served as a custody master and hearing officer for custody disputes in Northampton and Lehigh counties and as a tax-appeal hearing officer for Bethlehem. In the end, voters seemed to accept that Panella had the qualifications and experience to be a judge.
It was cause for a double celebration in the Panella household as Panella’s father, Jack, president judge of the state Superior Court, won another 10-year term on the court in a successful retention vote.
In another county-wide race, Judge Jennifer R. Sletvold, a Republican, was on her way to serve a second, 10-year term on the county court, with 33,826 votes in favor and 23,010 against.
County Council
Democratic county commissioner candidates had large leads in the two contested races. That should give the party a 6-3 advantage on county council that could boost Democratic county Executive Lamont McClure’s agenda. Council is under a 5-4 Republican majority.
Former council member and Democrat Ken Kraft was leading political newcomer Republican Bill Rowe in District I, while veteran Democrat Jeff Warren was leading Casey Foreman, a Republican making his first bid for elected office, in District III.
Democrat Kelly Keegan, a Forks Township supervisor looking to represent District II, and Tom Giovanni, a Republican seeking reelection from District IV, were unopposed.
District I
Ken Kraft – 9,977
Bill Rowe – 5,698
District III
Jeff Warren – 10,782
Casey Foreman – 8,237
Former county Judge Stephen Baratta, a Democrat, was unopposed in the election for district attorney after incumbent Democrat Terry Houck, who won as a write-in on the Republican ballot, dropped out.
Bethlehem City Council
The three Democratic candidates for Bethlehem City Council had large leads over their Republican opponents in their quest to be elected and maintain a 7-0 Democratic majority.
Democrats
Colleen Laird – 8,388
Michael Colón (incumbent) – 8,277
Bryan Callahan – 8,094
Republicans
Tom Ginthner – 3,711
Devin Brunges – 3,269
Jim Follweiler – 4,193
Term limits
Voters in Northampton County overwhelmingly voted in favor of term limits for three county offices, while Lower Saucon voters also approved term limits for township council.
Should county council members be limited to two consecutive four-year terms? Yes – 52,051; No – 9,836.
Should the county executive be limited to two consecutive four-year terms? Yes – 51,111; No – 10,669.
Should the county controller be limited to two consecutive four-year terms? Yes – 51,599; No – 10,078.
Should township council members be limited to two, consecutive four-year terms? Yes – 2,721; No – 809.