Few primary contests in Chester County races

Amid the 17 northern Chester County townships and boroughs in The Mercury’s coverage area, there are only five contested primaries for municipal posts in the May 18 elections.

In fact, according to the official candidate list posted on the Chester County website, at least two municipalities don’t even have enough candidates for the open seats on their borough councils and supervisor boards.

In Spring City, there are five borough council seats open and only three candidates — two Democrats, Dawn Chellel and James Burns; and one Republican, Paul Kern — who have registered with the county to run for council. One of the open seats carries a twoyear term.

In North Coventry Township, there are two seats with six-year terms on the board of supervisors up for election in November, but as of now, only one Republican, Carrie Hipple, is listed on the ballot.

Two of the contested primaries are in boroughs in Northern Chester County, one is a Democratic contest and the other a Republican one.

In Phoenixville, incumbent Beth Burckley is being challenged for the Democratic nomination for the Middle Ward seat on borough council by Tracy Lee Tackett. No Republicans have registered to run for that seat, which carries a four-year term.

In Honey Brook Borough, there is a Republican primary in the mayor’s race. Incumbent Christopher Mulhall is being challenged by Maria R. Downey. No Democrats have registered to run for the mayor’s seat.

In Chester County’s northern townships, there are two Republican primaries and one Democratic primary.

In East Vincent Township, there is a crowded contest for control of the threemember board of supervisors. Board member John Funk, whose term expires in December, is not seeking reelection.

For a seat with a six-year term, incumbent Christopher Canale is being challenged by Craig Damon to be the Republican nominee in November. The winner of the May 18 primary will face Democrat Endre Walls.

The East Vincent board also has a seat with two years left on its term up for grabs. There is no primary fight for that seat, but there will be a contest in November when Democrat Beth Flor faces Republican Austin Hodge.

The other Republican primary is for the one open seat on the three-member Honey Brook Township Board of Supervisors. There, incumbent Travis Stacey is being challenged by Laura Burdy. There is no Democrat registered to run for that seat.

The election of a seat with a six-year term on the five-member Schuylkill Township Board of Supervisors has spawned a Democratic primary contest.

Danielle Jouenne will face Michael A. Walker to be the Democratic candidate on the November ballot. Incumbent Tim McAvoy, who was appointed to complete the term in February after the death of Fred Parry, has not registered to run for reelection.

There is no Republican registered to run for the open seat on the Schuylkill board.

For all of the other open seats, there is either a single candidate or a single Democrat and single Republican running, meaning those races will be decided by voters on Nov. 2.

Some of those single-candidate races may become competitive in November if write-in candidates are added during the primary, creating general election contests.