Parker leads pack for PENNCREST seats

Unofficial winners in the race for four seats on PENNCREST School Board in Tuesday’s election are Mark Parker, Gerry Deane, Mark Gerow and Fred McDermott.

With 19 of 19 precincts reporting, Parker received 2,529 votes; Deane, 2,465; Gerow, 2,307; and McDermott, 2,379. The fourth candidate on the ballot, Libertarian nominee Bill Mantzell, received 1,170 votes.

Results will remain unofficial until the final tally, which is scheduled to begin on Friday, is complete.

Each of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts, with the exception of Philadelphia, is governed by a nine-member school board whose members serve four-year terms. School board seats are filled in two-year cycles, with four seats filled in 2013 and the remaining five seats filled during the 2015 election cycle.

Parker, who was appointed to the board in January to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Harold Shorts, said Tuesday night that he was glad about the victory and is looking forward to moving forward. “I think the two new board members (Deane and Gerow) will be real good to work with and will bring something new to the table. Providing a good education while trying to balance the budget is what it’s all about.”

Appointed to the board in August to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Harry Hicks, Gerow said that he’s excited about his election and looking forward to working with the other school board members to help to do what’s best for the district’s kids “because it’s all about the kids.”

“I’m thrilled — and I’m looking forward to serving the students, parents and taxpayers of PENNCREST,” said Deane, the only non-incumbent to win a seat on the board.

McDermott was not available for comment Tuesday night.

The board’s current president, Luigi DeFrancesco, failed in his primary bid for a slot on the ballot but promised to wage an active write-in campaign. However, with a total of only 420 write-in votes cast, DeFrancesco doesn’t appear to have a chance of recapturing his seat.

Mary Spicer can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at mspicer@meadvilletribune.com.