2019 primary election listings in Venango County number in the hundreds with the open slots ranging from county row officers to precinct constables.
County election officials have been busy collecting information from school districts, boroughs and townships on what offices they have up for election this year.
“Some things are subject to change because I haven’t heard back from every municipality yet,” said Dottie Tawney, elections coordinator for the county.
The open slots range from full salaried district judge office and county row posts to volunteer jobs such as school board member, township constable and borough auditor.
Nomination petitions for Republicans and Democrats may be obtained, starting Feb. 15, at the county election office in Franklin. The petitions may be circulated for signatures from Feb. 19 to March 12.
Here’s a look at offices up for election this year:
Venango County
Commissioners (3) – The incumbents are Republicans Tim Brooks and Vince Witherup and Democrat Albert “Chip” Abramovic. Voters will nominate two Republicans and two Democrats in the May primary election and the winners will face off in the November election.
Treasurer – Republican Deborah Sharpe is the incumbent.
Prothonotary – Republican Paula Palmer is the incumbent.
Auditors (3) – Republicans Heather Mohnkern and Jamie Weaver and Democrat Teri McFadden hold the posts. Voters will nominate two Republicans and two Democrats in May.
Serving at mid-term are district attorney Shawn White, sheriff Eric Foy, coroner Christina Rugh and register and recorder Susan Hannon. Their posts will be on the 2021 ballot.
District judge – The incumbent in District 3-1 is Andrew Fish who is completing his second six-year term in office.
The district includes Allegheny, Cherrytree, Cornplanter, Jackson, Oakland, Oil Creek and Plum townships and Cooperstown, Pleasantville, Rouseville and Sugarcreek boroughs.
Oil City
In Oil City, two city council slots and the mayor’s job are up for election this year.
The incumbents, all Republicans, are Mayor Bill Moon and councilmen Ron Gustafson and Dale Massie. The posts are for four years.
Franklin
Voters in Franklin will consider candidates for three city council jobs this year.
Incumbents whose terms expire are deputy mayor Donna Fletcher and councilmen James Marshall and Fred Mays, all Republicans. The posts are for four years.
Boroughs
Voters will nominate candidates for council seats in all nine boroughs with a few auditor slots slipped in for two boroughs.
Here are the open council seats: Barkeyville (4), Clintonville (3), Cooperstown (2), Emlenton (4), Pleasantville (2), Polk (4), Rouseville (2), Sugarcreek 2nd (1) and Sugarcreek 3rd (1), Utica (2).
Townships
There are 20 townships in Venango County and each township will feature an open six-year supervisor’s post on the ballot this year.
There are a few abbreviated supervisor terms open because of mid-term resignations.
In addition to the single open six-year post, townships with additional supervisor jobs up for election are Clinton, Jackson, Sandycreek and Victory. They will each have a two-year supervisor’s job on the ballot.
School boards
Voters will choose candidates for four-year school board seats in all area school districts.
Typically, at least one-third of the board membership is up for election every two years.
Open seats on school boards include five each in Cranberry, Franklin and Valley Grove districts. Oil City will have four slots on the spring ballot.
In school districts that include some municipalities within Venango County, there are designated seats for those precincts. They include Allegheny-Clarion (Richland Township, Scrubgrass), one seat each; Forest Area (President Township), two seats; Penncrest (Plum Township), five seats; Titusville (Allegheny, Cherrytree and Oil Creek townships, Pleasantville Borough), five seats.
In addition, the Penncrest and Titusville districts will each include a two-year school board post on the ballot.
