There are many candidates to choose from, particularly in the race for six seats on the New-Hope-Solebury School Board of Directors.
By: Mae Rhine
Pennsylvania voters have many candidates to choose from in Tuesday’s primary election.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In New Hope, voting takes place at the Eagle Fire Company at 46 North Sugan Road.
In Solebury Township, those living in the upper portion of the township vote at Carversville Christian Church, 3736 Aquetong Road; those in the middle section vote at Solebury School; and those in the lower portion vote at Thompson Presbyterian Church, 1680 Aquetong Road.
A hot race developed for six seats on the New Hope-Solebury School Board of Directors.
Six parents came together under the moniker of "Kids First" to challenge the incumbents.
All of the challengers crossed-filed on the GOP and Democratic tickets in the primary election.
Margaret Depp and Carl Glassman of Kids First are running for the two available two-year terms. They are going up against incumbents Sean Hopkins and Laurence Fieber.
Amanda Elefante, Tamara Baldasari, William Behre and Megan O’Brien of Kids First are running for the four available four-year terms. They are challenging incumbent David Dozbaba and Vice President Christine Flynn.
Mr. Behre, 39, is an interim dean in the School of Education, The College of New Jersey.
His running mates are Ms. Elefante, 37, a full-time mother whose former occupations were telecommunications engineer and former owner of an IT recruiting firm; Ms. Baldasari, 45, a landscape architect who volunteers with Scouting organizations, Odyssey of the Mind and Science Olympiad; Mr. Glassman, 52, owner of the Wedgewood Inn, an author, Realtor and consultant to the hospitality trade; Ms. O’Brien, whose age is unavailable, who is a school counselor and leads a Girl Scout troop.
Ms. Flynn, 51, is a homemaker and a retired teacher. She sees the top challenges facing the district as fiscal and academic accountability.
Mr. Hopkins, 45, is a health-care economist.
Mr. Fieber, 54, is a corporate executive in school evaluation performance.
On the municipal level, New Hope Mayor Laurence Keller faces no Republican challenger in the May 17 primary, but two Democratic challengers are squaring off for the chance to unseat him in November.
In the Democratic mayoral race, ceramic artist Elaine Daniels is going up against Frederick Viskovich.
Ms. Daniels serves on the board of directors of Bucks Villa, a group residence in New Hope for people with HIV/AIDS. She also serves on the borough’s Revitalization Committee and is a member of New Hope Arts, Partners in Progress, known as PIP, and the New Hope Historical Society.
Mayor Keller is wrapping up his second four-year term. He serves on the Historical Review Board and the Planning Commission and is treasurer of the New Hope Chamber of Commerce.
Also, four Democratic candidates for New Hope Borough Council face no opposition. Sharyn Keiser, council vice president, is seeking re-election along with incumbent councilmen Randy Flager and Ed Duffy. Also running is Claire Shaw.
Dr. Shaw, a dentist, is vice president of the borough’s Shade Tree Commission. She is also a member of the New Hope Historical Society and the Friends of the Delaware Canal.
Ms. Keiser is employed as a training manager for Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development. She is chairwoman of the Revitalization Committee. She also is a founding member of Partners in Progress and is a past president of the organization. She served on the Planning Commission from 1996 to 1999. She is completing her second term on council.
Mr. Duffy is completing his first four-year term on council. He is the council liaison to the planning, zoning and historical review boards.
Mr. Flager, 53, is an attorney. He was heavily involved in crafting the borough’s gay rights ordinance. He is council liaison to the Zoning Board.
In Solebury, Michael Kennerley is running unopposed on the GOP ticket for one open seat on the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Kennerley did not return a questionnaire.