Republican voters in Manheim Township appeared to be choosing the party ticket as the best bet to retake control of the townshipâs board of commissioners.
With all precincts reporting the in-person vote, endorsed Republican candidates John Bear, Stacey Morgan Brubaker and Mary Jo Huyard held large leads over unendorsed challengers Anthony Marcavage and Michael Loeven for nominations for three four-year seats.
An estimated 2,300 to 3,500 mail-in ballots remained to be counted in the township as of press time.
A fourth endorsed Republican, incumbent Donna DiMeo, had no GOP opponent for a two-year seat and won the partyâs nomination.
If they prevail in the primary, Bear, Morgan Brubaker and Huyard will square off in the fall against three endorsed Democrats â incumbents Tom OâBrien and Carol Gifford, and real estate investor Stella Sexton â who were unchallenged in their partyâs primary.
Both parties face contested primaries for the Manheim Township Board of Commissioners in Lancaster Countyâs largest suburb.
Republican voters will choose among five candidates who are competing for nominations for three seats with four-year terms.
In November, the three GOP nominees will face three Democrats who are unchallenged in their partyâs primary.
Democratic voters do, however, have a decision to make in the primary on a two-year seat. Two Democratic candidates are vying for nomination for that position, and the winner will face a Republican who is unchallenged in the primary.
The final winners will be determined when the two parties go head-to-head in the November general election. Hanging in the balance is the ideological direction the board will take over the next several years.
When: Manheim Township commissioners virtual meeting, April 12.
What happened: The board voted unanimously in favor of urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to authorize the local use of radar, previously illegal in the state. Commissioner Carol Gifford said Police Chief Thomas Rudzinski supports radar, which would discourage speeding, especially on routes 283, 222 and 30, which have the most crashes, at 19.3 per 1,000 people. Calling it âa distinction we do not want to hold,â Gifford asked residents to urge support from their state representatives.
Police report: Rudzinski said the department recently ordered body cameras for all Manheim Township Police Officers at a cost of $140,000; half of the cost is covered by a grant. He said the cameras will be downloaded at the end of the day, with access for 90 days.
When: Manheim Township Commissioners virtual meeting, March 29.
What happened: The board held a special meeting to discuss a disorderly practices ordinance and the regulation of consumer fireworks, which would not impact display fireworks such as those at Longâs Park. Board President Tom OâBrien and Commissioner Donna DiMeo were absent.
Why itâs important: Commissioner Barry Kauffman asked the board to look into Manheim Townshipâs fireworks regulations after the state increased the power and number of consumer fireworks allowed. The new law would address noise, among other complaints the township has received. He said he experienced the problem in his own backyard, which is near a park where people set off fireworks.
Manheim Township voters on both sides of the political aisle will face choices when they head to the polls on May 18 to pick their nominees for township commissioner in the politically competitive suburb.
Democrats and Republicans each face contested primaries this year, with party-endorsed candidates facing challengers. Creation of a county health department and how to manage growth and development are among the issues the candidates are discussing.
The township â the countyâs largest municipality outside of the city â sat firmly in Republican control for years. But demographic changes have led to increases in Democratic registration, and in 2019 the party took control of the five-member board, where it now holds a 4-1 majority.