Tie-vote runoff set in New Hope

Council President Richard Hirschfield and challenger Alan Rosenberg, both Democrats, received 170 votes each in Tuesday’s primary.

By: Linda Seida
   In the Bucks County primary Tuesday, one incumbent member of New Hope’s Borough Council won a slot on the November ballot, while another will end up in a tie-breaker for a chance to run in the fall election.
   Voters gave a nod of confidence to Democratic Councilwoman Geri Delevich, who walked away with 170, or 29.2 percent, of the votes in her bid for one of three Democratic slots in the November election. The top vote-getter was Democrat Rey Velasco, who received 171 votes, or 29.4 percent of the total votes.
   There was a tie for the third open seat in the Democratic primary. Council President Richard Hirschfield garnered 120 votes, or 20.7 percent of the total votes as did Alan Rosenberg.
   According to a Pennsylvania law enacted in the 1930s, tied elections are solved by casting lots at noon on the third Friday after the election. The winners roll a numbered ball or "pill" out of a brown leather-covered bottle. The pills are numbered 1 through 16, and the individual who draws the higher number wins.
   In the Republican camp, winners of the three November slots on the ballot are Claire E. Shaw, with 144 votes, or 43.6 percent of the total vote. Michael McManus garnered 140 votes, or 42.4 percent of the total vote. Former Councilman Robert Gerenser earned 46 votes, or 13.9 percent of the total vote.
   Candidates are running for four-year terms.
   In Solebury Township, where two seats on the Board of Supervisors are up for bid in November, Republicans Susan Kroupa and Ruth Ann Wilson beat out Donald E. Krause for a chance to run in November for a six-year term as a township supervisor. Ms. Kroupa garnered 465 votes, or 45.4 percent of the total votes, and Ms. Wilson earned 409 votes, or 39.9 percent of the total votes.
   Marcus Saitschenko, who ran unopposed for the Democrats, took home 131 votes.
   In a bid for a four-year term on the New Hope-Solebury School Board of Directors, it wasn’t much of a horse race. All five candidates for the five open November slots crossed filed. Each will have a spot on the November ballot.
   From the Democratic voters, Stephen Fiala earned 97 votes from Solebury and 80 from New Hope and 280 GOP votes from Solebury and 72 from New Hope for a total of 529.
   Robert D. Heath Jr. received 151 Democratic votes from Solebury and 106 from New Hope and 391 GOP votes from Solebury and 99 from New Hope for a total of 747.
   Diane G. Eler took home 132 Democratic votes from Solebury and 94 from New Hope and 325 GOP votes from Solebury and 82 from New Hope for a total of 633.
   Bob Carr garnered 126 Democratic votes from Solebury and 86 from New Hope and 342 GOP votes from Solebury and 87 from New Hope for a total of 641.
   William S. Clark earned 105 Democratic votes from Solebury and 77 from New Hope and 315 GOP votes from Solebury and 76 from New Hope for a total of 573.
   Mark Foster, who cross-filed, ran unopposed for a two-year term. He earned 144 Democratic votes from Solebury and 113 from New Hope and 328 Republican votes from Solebury and 81 from New Hope for a total of 666.