The primary/special election of 2019 is over, and it was quite memorable. Here are some observations from my perspective:

Tremendous Turnout: In the 2007, 2011, and 2015 primary elections, the voter percentage was the same, 28%. But last Tuesday, 42% of the voters turned out. This is especially surprising because throughout the state the voter turnout was quite low. Even in Harrisburg, where there were some very contentious issues, the turnout was described as “very miserable.” Why was the turnout in our area so high?

Trump Bump: It was amusing reading national media outlets trying to figure out why President Trump was visiting a “small Pennsylvania town” the day before the election. One well-respected conservative website even speculated it had something to do with the 1996 TWA flight 800 crash involving 21 Montoursville deaths. But there was nothing mysterious about it at all. Donald Trump knew that if Fred Keller did not win the PA12 Congressional seat by a higher margin than Tom Marino won in November of last year, it would be used against him as evidence that his Pennsylvania support was waning. Therefore it was worth a trip on Air Force One to hype up the base, and it certainly worked. Marino won with 66% of the vote, and Keller’s victory was well above 70%. Those who might have been lukewarm about voting certainly were probably more inclined after the Trump visit. And what was their voting mood?

Time for Change: Across the board, there was something of a push against the old guard. County Commissioner Jack McKernan, Williamsport Mayor Gabe Campana, Assistant District Attorney Nicole Ippolito, Williamsport City Council Member Don Noviello all lost their races for a higher office, with the exception of McKernan who was an incumbent in his position. William Carlucci had decades of litigation experience running for Common Pleas Judge, but seemed to fall victim to another aspect of this election —

Time for Youth: Well, maybe not youth as much as younger folks than their opponents. Ryan Tira for Court of Common Pleas Judge was decades younger than Bill Carlucci. The same was true with Eric Beiter for Williamsport Mayor over Don Noviello. And regarding that race, the matchup in November between Republican Eric Beiter and Democrat Derek Slaughter for Williamsport Mayor will be fascinating to follow as both are relatively young, are active in the community in many ways, and both are quite eloquent and intelligent. It is encouraging that the younger generation is getting so involved in our local political landscape. So, when all is said and done, what does it all mean?

Takeaways: It is not easy for new elected officials to enact change. The root cause is the amount of disconnect between what the public is concerned about (e.g. taxes, crime, jobs) and the pressure on public officials to deal with infrastructure issues, pensions, state and federal mandates, etc. The difference between being a member of the voting public is that you get a choice on what you wish to be concerned about, but to a great extent, the public official does not. This is why folks are often disappointed when their man or woman gets into office and they see so little change. The high voter turnout and the number of new people in office could make for some trying transitions. And finally…

Thanks! The Department Voter Services personnel and all the poll workers throughout the various precincts and wards deserve tremendous appreciation for their efforts. Forrest Lehman, Director of Elections and Registration, noted how smooth everything went in this election, despite the high turnout. However, as always, volunteers willing to work at the polls are desperately needed. Those who have the willingness to sacrifice a day at election time should visit the Department of Voter Services office at the Third Street Plaza, First Floor, 33 W.3rd St, Williamsport, or call them at (570) 327-2267.