As we gear up for this years’ Bucks County school board primary races, all eyes will settle on the new slates of candidates in each district. We’ll be zooming in on these contests, as well as providing analysis of some county wide trends and hot button issues to come. To get this conversation started, here is an overview of the upcoming school board elections in each of Bucks County’s 13 school districts.
By the Numbers
67 – Total director seats up for election
63 – Registered Democrat candidates
47 – Registered Republican candidates
1 – Registered Libertarian candidate
8 – Majority Republican school boards
5 – Majority Democrat school boards
District by District
District: BENSALEM
Seats up for Grabs: 5
Current Board Makeup: 8-1 Republican
This race will be a crucial one to watch this year, as Bensalem voters continue to have a strong voice in our county wide races. Both parties offer up a full slate of five candidates. On the Republican side, Board President Eric Price is seeking re-election, as well as incumbents Marc Cohen and Heather Nicholas. They’re joined by newcomers Bryan Hanratty (R) and Jim Kane (R). The board’s lone registered Democrat, Sheldon D. Per, is not seeking re-election. Instead, Democrats offer up Cathy Dress, Stephanie Ferrandez, Deborah King, Rebecca Mirra, and Karen Winters. All ten candidates are cross-filed and will appear on both party’s primary ballots.
District: BRISTOL BOROUGH
Seats Up for Grabs: 5
Current Board Makeup: 8-1 Democrat
It’s a very strong showing right out of the gate by the Dems of Bristol Borough — five incumbent Democrats are on the ballot this year. They include: Steven Cullen, Jeffrey Paleafico, Al Big Al Pirollo, MaryJane Potena Paglione, and John Stiltner. Four out of five of these candidates are fully cross-filed, leaving the potential for a Republican to make it onto the ballot for the general with some hard work on a primary write-in campaign.
District: BRISTOL TOWNSHIP
Seats Up for Grabs: 5 + 1 Two-Year Seat
Current Board Makeup: 8-1 Democrat
Bristol Township’s one registered Republican incumbent is up for re-election this cycle, Donna L. Kelly. She’s cross-filed, along with incumbent Democrats Christopher Harkins, Amanda Geist, and Constance R. Moore. Krystle Eakin-Chebly (D) and Jailan Elsarha (D) are filed on both sides of the ballot as well, each looking to fill one of the five available 4-year seats. There is one two-year seat up for election, and incumbent Democrat Gallus Obert is running unopposed. Although her term is up, current board Vice President Barbara Bill (D) is not seeking re-election.
District: CENTENNIAL
Seats Up for Grabs: 5, Across 3 Regions
Current Board Makeup: 5-4 Republican
Former Board President and longtime Bucks County Commissioner, Charles H. Martin (R), is seeking re-election in region 1, as is incumbent Michael Lydon (D). Joining the fray in region 1 are fresh faces on both sides of the aisle as challengers — Kathleen Maguire (R), and Cathie Forman (D). In region 2, Vice President Patti Crossan (D) and incumbent Tony Sadowski (D) are both seeking re-election, challenged by Republicans Don McGreary, Jr. and Arno Carl F. Vorwerk. In region 3, we have a head to head between incumbent Shelley Eilenberg (D) and challenger Michael Hartline (R).
District: CENTRAL BUCKS
Seats Up for Grabs: 5, Across 5 Regions
Current Board Makeup: 6-3 Republican
As Pennsylvania’s largest suburban school district and positioned in the middle of Bucks County both geographically and ideologically, Central Bucks board elections often garner the most attention and interest. All 11 candidates are fully cross-filed, and their contests will decide five seats across five regions. In region 1, incumbent Karen Smith (D) is challenged by Dr. Stephen Mass (R). In region 2, Board President Dana Hunter (R) is seeking re-election, challenged by Heather Reynolds (D). For region 3, a familiar face returns, Glenn Schloeffel (R), who previously served in this region until 2019. Patricia Carman (R) and Dana Foley (D) look to make that contest competitive. In region 6, newcomers Rick Haring (D) and Aarati Martino (R) face a one-on-one bout. Finally, region 8 is another head-to-head, with Tony Arjona (R) and Susan M. Gibson (D) both newcomers looking to earn a spot on the board.
District: COUNCIL ROCK
Seats Up for Grabs: 6, Across 6 Regions
Current Board Makeup: 6-3 Republican
Another set of races sure to peak interest county wide is in Council Rock, where a whopping six seats are up for election this cycle. Republicans seem confident in maintaining control, with the majority of their candidates choosing not to cross-file, unlike their registered Democrat opponents. In region 1, Natalya Khavulya (R) and Tracey Osecki (D) are newcomers in a head-to-head contest. Similarly, in region 2, Edward F. Tate III (D) and Jonathan Seamens (R) are both seeking election. In region 4, incumbent Joe Hidalgo (R) is re-running, and Matthew J. Laskowski (D) is looking to unseat him. Board President Ed Salamon (R) seeks re-election in region 5, where Linda E. Stone (D) challenges. Region 7 is a one-on-one race between cross-filed newcomers Anne Horner (R) and Kimberly Winnick (D). Stephen C. Nowmos (R), a recent appointment following the resignation of former board member and freshman State Rep Kristin Marcell, seeks re-election in region 9, where Nichole Peet Khan (D) challenges.
District: MORRISVILLE
Seats Up for Grabs: 5
Current Board Makeup: 7-1 Republican, 1 Libertarian
Morrisville is an at-large district, with five seats up for grabs this election. Board President Damon Miller (D) is up for re-election, as is Vice President, and this year’s lone registered Republican candidate, Donna Getty. Also seeking another term are Democrat incumbents David May and Stephanie Schmidt. Newcomer Llmar Brockington (D) is also seeking election. Notably, all Morrisville candidates have fully cross-filed this year.
District: NESHAMINY
Seats Up for Grabs: 5, Across 3 Regions
Current Board Makeup: 7-2 Republican
Five seats are also up for election in Neshaminy this cycle, across three regions. Of those five seats, four are held by Republicans, all of whom are running for another term. In region 1, Board President Tina Hollenbach (R) seeks re-election, along with incumbent Carlos Rodriguez (R). They face J C Derosa (D) and Wendy Flanigan (D). In region 2, Vice President Paul Saraullo (R) looks to hold his seat. Newcomers Ryan Tierney (R), Beth Marshall (D) and Jill Waldbieser* are also running in region 2. Incumbent Marty Sullivan (R) is uncontested in region 3.
* Note: The Bucks County Board of Elections report generated March 14, 2023 does not list any voter registration information for Jill Waldbieser, or likely alternative spellings of that name.
District: NEW HOPE SOLEBURY
Seats Up for Grabs: 5
Current Board Makeup: 9-0 Democrat
In New Hope Solebury, four of the board’s incumbent Democrats are seeking re-election, including Board President Judy McHenry Finn, John Augenblick, Nik Heble, and Montu Patel. There are a total of five at-large seats up for grabs. Three Republican challengers, Ronald Felix, Jason Koye, and Donald Martin Jr., are each seeking to scoop up a seat, as is Democrat newcomer Linda Szwedo. All eight candidates for school board have fully cross-filed with both parties.
District: PALISADES
Seats Up for Grabs: 5, Across 3 Regions
Current Board Makeup: 7-2 Republican
Democrats appear to be slow out of the gate in Palisades this election, offering up only two candidates: Vice President Silvia LeBlanc, who is unopposed in region 1, and Betsy Nilsen, who enters a four-person contest for two seats in region 3. In region 2, three Republicans are vying for just two seats: Karen Beerer, Kathleen Gentner, and Saul Ramos. In region 3, Republicans Walt French, Dawn Grochowiak, and Linda S. Wenhold are running opposite Nilsen for the two available seats. Each candidate elected to cross-file with both parties this cycle.
District: PENNRIDGE
Seats Up for Grabs: 5
Current Board Makeup: 8-1 Republican
Eleven candidates have tossed their names in for Pennridge’s five at-large seats up for grabs this year. Because all of the Democrats cross-filed, the Republican primary ticket will include all eleven names. Incumbent Ron Wurz (D), who recently switched his registration back to Democrat after running as a Republican in 2021, is seeking re-election, as is Board President David A. Reiss, Sr. (R) and incumbent Jonathan Russell (R). Democrat Carolyn Sciarrino is running after an unsuccessful campaign two years ago, along with fellow cross-filed Democrats Chris Kaufman, Bradley Merkl-Gump, and Leah Foster Rash. Choosing not to cross-file, like Reiss and Russell, are newcomer Republicans Joshua Hogan, Barbara Vees, and Jim York. The only registered Republican to cross-file was Bob Sellers.
District: PENNSBURY
Seats Up for Grabs: 5, Across 3 Regions
Current Board Makeup: 9-0 Democrat
Democrats appear comfortable in Pennsbury, where all five incumbents up for re-election this year are seeking another term. In region 1, Board President T.R. Kannan (D) is running unopposed. AJ Ainscoe, the lone registered Republican running, is facing four Democrats in a contest for three seats in region 2: Vice President Gary Sanderson; incumbents Jim Prokopiak and Sherwood David Taylor III; and newcomer Donna Parto Abrescia. In region 3, incumbent Jeannine Delwiche (D) is running unopposed.
District: QUAKERTOWN
Seats Up for Grabs: 5, Across 3 Regions
Current Board Makeup: 7-2 Republican
Five seats are up for election in Quakertown this year. In region 1, Republicans yield the available seat to Democrats, with former candidate David O’Donnell (D) running unopposed. In region 2, Vice President Jonathan Kern (R) is seeking re-election, as is incumbent Chris Spear (D). Amanda Hahn (D) hopes to find an opening. It’s a similar situation in region 3, where incumbents Brian K. Reimers (D) and Mike Post (R) are joined on the ballot by cross-filed Democrat Joseph Carl Lyons.
For a rundown of county-wide positions up for election and candidates, click here.
SOURCES:
– https://www.buckscounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12769/2023-Primary-Unofficial-Candidate-List-after-petition-deadline?bidId=&fbclid=IwAR2Bvg9a67tPSW_31TC_igvI9CIGZfSpDi4plcPs1siZHT0wuJhhsZuJERI
– Bucks County Board of Elections Voter Registration Report, dated March 14, 2023