Here’s a look at results from school board races across Centre County
After months of lead-up, voters have made their choices for the next members of Centre County’s school boards.
Thirty-four candidates ran for the 23 open school board seats across Centre County. Since Jan. 1, candidates raised more than $46,000, mostly from local donations.
This election cycle has been dominated by PACs, with candidates in State College, Bellefonte and Penns Valley choosing to fundraise and run in groups.
As of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, with all 87 precincts reporting from Election Day and all 87 absentee/early precincts reporting, the following are the unofficial results.
State College Area
The Slate for State PAC, which includes Democrats Gretchen Brandt, Aaron Miller, Amy Bader, Anne Demo and Dan Kolbe, were top vote-getters for the five seats open on State College Area’s board of school directors.
Republicans Michelle Young, Barry Fenchak, John Krajcovic and Nathan Bish ran as part of the United for SCASD PAC, with Republican Megan Layng also on the ballot.
Bellefonte Area
The Win4Bellefonte group, which includes Republicans Jennifer Barnhart, Patrick Buck, Timothy Kessling and Kimberly Weaver, received the most votes Tuesday night, according to the unofficial results. For the fifth seat, Democrat Donna Smith has a narrow lead over Republican Darrell Sharp.
Penns Valley Area
For the four at-large seats, Republicans Dan Hall and Kim Kellerman-Domin, who ran as part of The Valleys’ Voice PAC, had a strong showing, according to the unofficial results, which show Democrat Domer Smeltzer as the top vote-getter. For the fourth seat, Democrat Scott Butler has only a two-vote lead over Republican and The Valleys’ Voice candidate Molly Miller.
Provisional and military ballots that have yet to be counted have the potential to change the outcome of that razor-thin race.
Daniel Pick, who ran uncontested for the district one spot will take the remaining board seat.
Bald Eagle Area
Five candidates ran for five seats on the Bald Eagle Area school board, including write-in candidate Amanda Hepfer. Erika Danneker ran as a Republican but Molly Hoover, Jason Penland, Brandi Bartley and Hepfer were cross-filed.
Philipsburg Osceola
Five school board seats were up for election on the Philipsburg-Osceola Area School Board, with three regions within Centre County. In district four, Republican Alexander Boumerhi won against Democrat Tiffany Warlow. Timothy Bainey and Todd Jeffries were cross-filed and uncontested within their districts.
