Cowey Moves Forward in Hancock County Commission Race
Hancock County’s incumbent commissioner is set to return for a second term, while the county’s school board will see three new members, according to unofficial results following Tuesday’s primary election.
Commissioner Paul Cowey took the lead in a close three-way race, receiving 1,071 votes. Brett Lemley received 974 votes, while Ted Arneault Jr. received 917 votes.
"I want to thank all of the constituents," Cowey said outside of the county courthouse after the final precincts were counted. "I’m just looking forward to taking the county to the next level."
In particular, Cowey pointed to ongoing updates to the communications systems for the county’s 911 emergency dispatch network, as well as plans to improve broadband service throughout the county and continuing work alongside the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle to attract economic development opportunities to the county.
"We’re going to see some changes," he said. "I’m looking forward to it."
All three candidates are Republicans, and there currently are no Democrats on the ballot for the November general election.
In the race for Hancock County Board of Education, which saw eight candidates vying for three seats, candidates Ed Fields, Gerard Spencer and Jim Horstman were selected by voters to represent them in overseeing the county school system.
Fields, of Clay District, received 1,933 votes, with Spencer from Butler District getting 1,886 votes, and Horstman, also of Clay District, picking up 1,614 votes.
Incumbent board member and current board president Danny Kaser came in fourth place, with 1,556 votes.
Remaining totals for the school board candidates were Philip Rujak, 1,332; Dr. Gregory Albert Baldt, 777; Seth A. Cheuvront, 1,060; and Christina Lee Fair, 1,118.
Fields, of New Cumberland, previously served on the school board from 1989 to 1998, including two years as board president.
In other unofficial results from Tuesday, Sandy Casto appears set to make her appointment as the county’s circuit court clerk permanent, and Karan Valenti is heading toward becoming Hancock County’s new county clerk.
Valenti, with 12 years of experience working in the County Clerk’s Office, is heading toward taking over the post from current clerk George Foley, who opted not to seek re-election. Valenti received 1,426 votes over Valerie Truax, the current deputy court clerk, who received 1,341 votes.
Speaking after the final tallies were announced, Valenti called the experience "overwhelming," while also recognizing the efforts of her colleague and opponent in the race.
"She did a good job," Valenti said. "We both worked hard."
While there currently is no Democrat on the ballot for the office, Valenti said she still wants to focus on the general election in November.
"It’s not over until November," she said. "It’s not official yet."
Casto, who was appointed as circuit court clerk following the death of Charles Wright in December, defeated fellow Republican candidate Frederick John Marello Jr., 1,936 to 854.
"I’m real excited. I want to thank the voters for coming out and having faith in me," Casto said. "I’m just excited."