SUNBURY - There are competitive races in next Tuesday's primary for commissioner, judge and district attorney in Northumberland County, but two other county row officers are on the ballot, too.
Kevin P. Gilroy, incumbent county treasurer, is running unopposed in the Republican primary. There is no Democratic candidate on the ballot. Gilroy was elected to the position for the first time in 2011, after having been appointed to the post in July 2010 to fill a vacancy.
Sheriff Robert Wolfe is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Wolfe took office as acting sheriff in January 2014 when former Sheriff Chad Reiner resigned. Wolfe was confirmed to the office in June 2014 by the state Senate. There are no Republicans on the ballot.
Eight candidates are running in the primary for county commissioner - five Democrats and three Republicans, with two to be nominated in each party. Candidates are: Kym Best, George Zalar, Tom Aber, Myron Turlis and Nathan Savidge, Democrats, and Samuel Schicatano, Rick Shoch and Michael Millett, Republicans.
There are three candidates for two judgeships. Hugh A. Jones, H. Robert Mattis Jr. and Paige Rosini cross-filed in both parties.
Ann Targonski and Tony Matulewicz are running for the Democratic nomination for district attorney. Targonski was appointed to the position following the resignation of Tony Rosini, who was named to fill a vacancy on the county court. There are no Republican candidates on the ballot for district attorney.
At the top of the ballot are wide-open races for state judgeships.
Justice of the Supreme Court (three seats): Democrats, David Wecht (Allegheny County), Christine Donohue (Allegheny County), Kevin P. Dougherty (Philadelphia County), John Henry Foradora (Jefferson County), Anne E. Lazarus (Philadelphia County) and Dwayne D. Woodruff (Allegheny County), and Republicans, Correale Stevens (Montgomery County), Anne Covey (Bucks County), Rebecca Warren (Montour County); Mike George (Adams County), Cheryl Allen (Allegheny County) and Judy Olson (Allegheny County).
Judge of the Superior County (one seat), Alice Beck Dubow (Philadelphia County) and Robert Colville (Allegheny County), and Republican, Emil Giordino (Northampton County).
Judge of the Commonwealth Court (vote for one): Democrats, Todd Eagen (Lackawanna County) and Michael Wojcik (Allegheny County), and Republican, Paul Lalley (Allegheny County).
Otherwise, there are contested races in just a handful of municipalities in eastern Northumberland County and for the Mount Carmel Area School Board:
Coal Township commissioner: Four Democrats are on the ballot, but three will be nominated. The candidates are George Zalar, Gene A. Welsh Jr., Bernie Rumberger, all incumbents, and Peter J. Long.
Mount Carmel Township supervisor: Two Democrats, Bruce Facer and Aaron Domanski, are on the ballot, with just one to be nominated to be on the general election ballot. Neither is an incumbent.
Mount Carmel Area School Board: Because school board candidates are eligible to cross-file, the same six candidates are on both the Democratic and Republican tickets. The candidates are James P. Britt, Jessica M. Delaney, Robert E. Muldowney Jr., Brian Shurock, Michael Scott Venna and John Laughlin. Laughlin's death on April 15 came too late to have his name taken off the ballot. In the event Laughlin wins the primary, a substitute nomination certificate will be sent to the respective political party inviting the party to nominate a substitute to fill the ballot vacancy.