Takeaways from the Nov. 7 school board races in the Lehigh Valley
Plus more details on results, including uncontested races
In an election dominated by outcomes in Parkland, East Penn, Southern Lehigh and Saucon Valley, there were still plenty of takeaways from unofficial results from other school board races in the Lehigh Valley.
Many newcomers win
Wins overall included a lot of newcomers largely because many incumbents bowed out of running for reelection. Many had been elected – or reelected – in 2019 and had to make tough choices in 2020 when the coronavirus hit and forced in-home learning then mandated mask policies. Their decisions drew support and anger from many parents at meetings that took place via Zoom or in person. Among the new faces is Democrat Zaleeae Sierra, a 20-year-old who won a seat on the Allentown School Board.
Incumbents did well, too
With rare exception, incumbents across the board were reelected regardless of their party affiliation. The winning incumbents included Republicans who failed to win party nominations in the May 16 primary, but, because school board candidates can cross-file, won under the Democratic banner. Republican Michael Baird in Northampton Area is one of those candidates.
To be sure, not every incumbent won. Among those rejected at the polls were Republican David Gogel in Northampton Area, Democrat Thomas Knorr in Pen Argyl Area and Republicans Susan Baxter, Bryan Eichfeld and Shawn Welch and Democrat Michael Karabin in Saucon Valley.
Parkland, East Penn and Southern Lehigh grab headlines
Election results in Parkland, East Penn and Southern Lehigh grabbed attention for wins by Democratic slates that included Republicans. Southern Lehigh’s Democratic slate had four Republicans and one Democrat. The platforms of the bipartisan slates included upholding reputations of academic excellence, being welcoming and inclusive to all students, having quality teachers and passing budgets that weigh the need for tax hikes with providing quality education.
They bested Republican newcomers whose political interest grew out of frustration over mandated mask policies and school closings during the coronavirus pandemic. Their platforms included parental rights, transparency, keeping taxes low, restoring learning loss from the pandemic and, in some cases, dissatisfaction with transgender policies and library book choices.
The Southern Lehigh winners will make up a 5-4 majority on the board that, in 2021, saw Republicans, backed by local and outside money, sweep the school board race by appealing to parents upset over school closings, mandated masking and learning loss associated with the coronavirus pandemic.
Republican newcomers made gains as well
Northampton Area saw three Republican slate candidates win three of five seats up for election – Kristin Lorah-Soldridge, Joshua Harris and Brian McCulloch, the latter two finishing ahead and ousting incumbent Republican David Gogel. Lorah-Soldridge, Harris and McCulloch were part of a team of five Republicans whose platform, among other issues, included keeping Moore Elementary School open, student safety, restoring loss learning from the pandemic and questioning the need to take on additional debt for building projects. On their Facebook pages, Lorah-Soldridge and McCulloch vowed not to support mandated mask policies.
Meanwhile, Republicans dominated in places such as Bangor Area and Nazareth Area where they outnumbered Democrats on the ballot. Northern Lehigh had zero Democrats in the running for seven seats.
Here is a roundup of the races based on unofficial results posted by both counties. Results include the 2,155 emergency paper ballots that were filled out on Nov. 7 in Northampton County when voting machines were not used for a couple of hours. As of Nov. 10, the county still had to count an additional 235 provisional ballots, which would create a slight chance at altering outcomes.
ALLENTOWN
In the Democratic-dominated city, voters picked all Democrats, including two incumbents. Republican Tom Houck was a post-primary add to the ballot, occurring when incumbent Democrat Evelyn J. Santana withdrew from the November race. She had won on both ballots, giving Republicans a chance to put one of their own on the ballot. Among the three new faces on the board is Zaleeae Sierra, a 20-year-old who is youth coordinator at Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley.
Daysell Ramirez (D) – 5,761
Ana T. Tiburcio (D) – 5,836
Audrey Mathison (D) – 5,833 – incumbent
Andrene Brown Nowelln (D) – 5,385 – incumbent
Zaleeae Sierra (D) – 4,890
Tom Houck (R) – 3,814
BANGOR AREA
With only one Democrat on the ballot, Bangor Area chose all Republicans, including Michael Goffredo and Christopher Marozzi, who had appeared as Democrats on Tuesday due to losses in the May 16 Republican primary but victories in the Democratic contest. Two incumbent Republicans, Toni E. Lynch and Zachery Miller, were ousted in the primary.
Colleen Schiavone (R) – 2,354
Christopher Marozzi (R) – 2,752 – incumbent
Tanya Peifly (R) – 2,455
Courtney Gilmour (D) – 2,127
Michael Goffredo (R) – 2,177 – incumbent
Melissa Smith (R) – 2,808
BETHLEHEM AREA
Voters went with the Democratic slate, picking four incumbents and one newcomer. There was only one Republican challenger – Cindy O’Brien, who had been endorsed by Moms for Liberty - Northampton County. She was on the ballot for the at-large and Region 3 races.
At-large (three seats)
Karen Beck Pooley (D) – 14,808 – incumbent
Emily Root Schenkel (D) – 14,855 – incumbent
M. Rayah Levy (D) – 15,226
Cindy O'Brien – 9,416
Region 2
Michael Recchiuti – 7,274 – incumbent
Region 3
Kim Shively (D) – 6,879 – incumbent
Cindy O'Brien (R) – 4,461
EAST PENN
Voters chose a bipartisan group running as Democrats over a slate of Republicans called Your Voice on the Board. As they stayed out of the back-and-forth fray of the campaign, their win was bolstered by a strong ground game and messaging – spearheaded by the Lehigh County Democratic Committee – that labeled their opponents extremists. Their win came despite being outspent. The Your Voice on the Board political action committee brought in about $44,830 between January and Oct. 23 while the Valley Values PAC, which supported the winners, saw about $18,530 come in. Donors to the Your Voice on the Board PAC included Lehigh Valley Republican business leaders and, in the spring, Paul Martino, a Bucks County venture capitalist who founded the Back to School PA political action committee.
Joshua Levinson (D) – 8,734 – incumbent
Gabrielle Klotz (D) – 8,522
Shonta Ford (D) – 8,378
Jeffrey Jankowski (R) – 8,656 – incumbent
Timothy Kelly (R) – 8,277
Paul Barbehenn (R) – 6,685
Matt Mull (R) – 6,066
Angelic Schneider (R) – 6,772
Kristofer DePaolo (R) – 6,738
Lawrence Huyssen (R) – 6,297
NAZARETH AREA
Republicans emerged as the winners of all seats, including two who were endorsed by Moms for Liberty - Northampton County – Elmo L. Frey Jr. and Melinda Gladstone. One incumbent was in the race – Gregory C. Leh, who was unopposed.
Region 1 (two seats)
Sariann L. Knerr (D) – 1,175
Jeff C. Greener (D) – 1,168
Elmo L. Frey Jr. (R) – 1,415
Melinda G. Gladstone (R) – 1,298
Region 2 (one seat)
Jason M. Swails (D) – 1,549
Christopher G. Miller (R) – 1,593
Region 3 (one seat)
Gregory C. Leh (R) – 1,406 – incumbent
NORTHAMPTON AREA
Voters went with a mix of candidates. They chose to reelect incumbent Democrat John Becker (Region 1) and incumbent Republican Michael Baird (Region 2); oust incumbent Republican David Gogel (Region 3), and select three out of five Republican candidates running as a slate – Kristin Lorah-Soldridge (Region 1) and Joshua Harris and Brian McCulloch (both Region 3). The Republican slate had campaigned on keeping Moore Elementary School open and on questioning the school board’s decision to take on debt to build the Route 329 project, which includes a new elementary school and administration center.
On her Facebook page, Lorah-Soldridge promised not to require masking and, when expressing support for teachers, said she did not support “wokeism, or indoctrination.” On his Facebook page, McCullouch said he was running for school board because he “will never require your children to wear a mask.” The other slate members were Republicans Marc Kercsmar and William G. Jones Jr., who was endorsed by Moms for Liberty - Northampton County. Gogel had been in the lead over McCulloch by four votes for the second and final Region 3 spot before the emergency ballots were counted.
Region 1 (two seats)
John Becker (D) – 2,132 — incumbent
Robert Mentzell (R) – 2,040
Kristin Lorah-Soldridge (R) – 2,108 slate
Marc Kercsmar (R ) – 1,958
Region 2 (one seat)
Michael Baird (R) – 1,972 — incumbent
William G. Jones Jr. (R) – 1,561
Region 3 (two seats)
David Gogel (R) – 1,575
Brian McCulloch (R) –1,616
Joshua Harris (R) – 1,810
NORTHERN LEHIGH
Incumbents swept all seven seats up for election. There were no Democrats in the running and only two non-incumbents seeking election.
Gale N. Husack (R) – 1,335 – incumbent
Angela Williams (R) – 1,004
Mathias Matt Green (R) – 1,287 – incumbent
Glenn A Williams (R) – 949
Robert L. Kern Jr. (R) – 1,498 – incumbent
Natalie S. Snyder (R) – 1,419 – incumbent
Donna M. Kulp (R) – 1,231 – incumbent
Two seats (2-year term, vote for two)
Rhonda Frantz (R) – 1,502 – incumbent
Natalie S. Snyder (R) – 1,553 – incumbent
PARKLAND
Voters went with a bipartisan group running under the Democratic banner that included four incumbents. As they stayed out of the back-and-forth fray of the campaign, their win was bolstered by a strong ground game and messaging – spearheaded by the Lehigh County Democratic Committee – that labeled their opponents extremists. Their win occurred despite a wide gulf in spending between them and the Elevating Excellence slate. The PAC called Concerned Parents of Parkland saw about $7,400 in donations come in for the Democratic slate between January and Oct. 23. Common Sense Solutions had about $44,300 donated on behalf of the Elevating Excellence slate, including money from Lehigh Valley business leaders and Martino, who donated himself or through his PAC called Back to School PA. Current board member, Patrick Foose, a Republican, lost in the spring.
Four-year term
Marisa Ziegler (D) – 9,031 – incumbent
Jay Rohatgi (D) – 8,838 – incumbent
Christopher Pirrotta (D) – 8,621
Lisa A. Roth (R) – 9,080 – incumbent
Carol L Facchiano (D ) – 8,717 – incumbent
Beth Finch (R) – 6,922
Bobby Lanyon (R) – 6,796
Michael Deering (R) – 6,918
George Rivera (R) – 6,684
Natalie Janotka (R) – 6,768
Two-year seat
Jay Rohatgi (D) – 9,026 – incumbent
Mike Millo (R) – 7,607
PEN ARGYL AREA
Incumbent Republicans were reelected in uncontested races while incumbent Democrat Thomas Knorr lost in Region 1. Three newcomers will join the board.
Region 1 (two-year seat)
Thomas Knorr (D) – 291 – incumbent
James A. Frey (R) – 371
Region 1 (four-year seat)
Lisa Hackman (R) – 384 – Incumbent
Region 2 (vote for two)
Nancy O'Keefe (D) – 647
Robert C. Rutt (R) – 823
Jeff Moyer (R) – 1,046 – incumbent
Region 3 (Vote for two)
John Dally Jr. (R) – 372
Jason Keenhold (D) – 310 – incumbent
SAUCON VALLEY
A slate of four Democrats, including former teacher and union leader Vivian Demko, ousted four incumbent Republicans, leaving only one incumbent, a Democrat, winning reelection. Democrats also swept races in Hellertown and Lower Saucon, which make up the school district.
Vivian A. Demko (D) – 3,053
Jay Santos (D) – 2,808
Bill Broun (D) – 2,737
Donald L. Carpenter III (D) — 2,706
Laurel Erickson-Parsons (D) – 2,839 – incumbent
Susan Baxter (R) – 2,373 – incumbent
Bryan Eichfeld (R) – 2,255 – incumbent
Michael Karabin (D ) – 2,379 – incumbent
Shawn Welch (R) – 2,266 – incumbent
SOUTHERN LEHIGH
Voters in Southern Lehigh went with a Democrat and four Republicans, including an incumbent. They ran against a slate of self-described “true Republicans” who signed a pledge that, among other promises, said its first act would be to seek to look into changing a policy allowing transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms aligning with their gender choice. The race had high interest with at least one polling district in Upper Saucon posting an usually high turnout above 50%. The winners now have a 5-4 majority on the board that, in 2021, saw Republicans, backed by local and outside money, sweep the school board race by appealing to parents upset over school closings, mandated masking and learning loss associated with the coronavirus pandemic.
Melissa Torba (D) – 3,972
Emily Gehman (R) – 3,983 – incumbent
Candi Kruse (R) – 3,878
Timothy Kearney (R) – 3,978
Eric Boyer (R) – 3,871
Danelle Roy (R) – 3,438
Lance M Tittle (R) – 3,366
Paul Deebel (R) – 3,453
Douglas Durham (R) – 3,388
James Pica (R) – 3,385
WHITEHALL-COPLAY
In a race dominated by Republican candidates, voters stuck with two Democratic incumbents. One Republican incumbent and two newcomers also won seats.
Nichole L Hartman (D) – 3,408 – incumbent
Patty D Gaugler (R) – 3,775 – incumbent
George Makhoul (D) – 3,229 – incumbent
Seth Kubat (R) – 3,063
Fady Salloum (R) – 2,922
William Groller (R) – 2,652
LoriAnn Fehnel (R) – 2,125
Uncontested races
Catasauqua Area –Jillian Emert (1,431) Lauren Cieslak (1,247) Eric DeLabar (1,153) and Jeremy Smale (738). There was not a fifth candidate or candidates in the race.
Easton Area – Region 1: Jodi Hess (3,535) and Bill Whitman (3,070); Region 2: Ghennifer Zando-Dennis (1,849); Region 3: Michael Simonetta (3,867). The Republican defeated incumbent Democrat Edward Keegan in the spring.
Northwestern Lehigh – Rachael L Scheffler (2,698), Todd Leiser (2,640), Joseph E. Fatzinger (2,651), Willard Dellicker (2,783) and John Casciano (2,676).
Salisbury – Sarah A Nemitz (2,043), Carol A. Klinger (2,420), Thomas P. Spinner (2,167), Joseph S. Kuzo (2,082) and Joseph Gaither (2,079).
Wilson Area – Region 1: Linda Ann Baskwell (408) and Janis E. Krieger (397); Region 2 four year: Jeffrey L. Breidinger (519); Region 2, two year: Jeffrey L. Breidinger Sr. (433) and Margaret Hall (360); Region 3: Judith A. Herbstreith (927) and Johnathan Jones (870).