Democratic recorder of deeds heartbroken in defeat
Before he reached the end of his first sentence, Fred Sheeler, reading from a prepared statement, had to pause.
He choked back tears, cleared his throat and regrouped. He began again, only to be overcome with emotion once more a moment later.
“This is harder than I thought it would be,” he said.
It had only been a little over 12 hours since Sheeler, Berks County’s recorder of deeds since 2008, had learned he had lost his reelection bid. He was still raw, still grappling with the idea he’d have to leave a job he truly loves.
“First of all, I would like to thank all of the wonderful people who have supported me over the last 12 years, especially my office staff,” he read after finding his footing. “I am proud of what I have accomplished for the people of Berks County and how I have transformed the recorder’s office into the best in the state.”
Sheeler, a 56-year-old Democrat from Bern Township, lost in Tuesday’s general election to Mary Kozak, a 63-year-old caretaker from Reading. Kozak finished the night with 37,305 votes, besting Sheeler’s 35,512 votes, according to complete but unofficial results.
Kozak could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Sheeler, in his prepared statement and in comments that followed, expressed distress over his loss, saying his competitor did not have the experience to run the office. As he had during the campaign, he said Kozak has “no knowledge of what the position entails” and that she failed to fill out the proper paperwork needed to run. Kozak ran in the primary election as a write-in candidate after her incomplete paperwork led her to pull her name from the ballot.
“Honestly, because of her utter lack of qualifications, I could not have even hired her for an entry-level position in my office,” Sheeler said.
Sheeler said he believed the election came down to party affiliation.
“It is discouraging that this is what we have become as voters — straight-ticket party over person, with no thought or care about who is more qualified,” he said.
Across Berks, 54% of ballots cast Tuesday were “straight ticket.” Republican straight tickets accounted for 28% of the overall vote, while Democratic straight tickets were 25% of the overall vote.
Straight-ticket voting is coming to an end in Pennsylvania, with Gov. Tom Wolf recently signing a bill that eliminates it. But its disappearance next fall is too late to help Sheeler’s cause.
Sheeler said that Democrats need to do a better job of getting people out to vote, particularly in elections that don’t feature a big ticket like a presidential race.
“We have more Democrats here, but they’re concentrated in the city and they don’t vote even in midyear elections let alone these elections,” he said. “We need to educate them that you have to vote every year.”
As for his future, Sheeler said he’s unsure what it will hold. His initial thought was that his loss would be the end of his run as recorder of deeds, but the kind words and encouragement he found waiting for him when returned to his office Wednesday could change that.
“I’ll have to think about it,” he said of running again in four years.
Sheriff
Republican incumbent Eric Weaknecht comfortably won reelection Tuesday, besting Democratic challenger Bart Ganster by more than 10,000 votes.
Weaknecht, 54, of Lower Heidelberg Township, finished the night with 44,431 votes, according to unofficial results. Ganster, 57, a constable from St. Lawrence, ended up with 29,285.
Weaknecht has served as sheriff since 2008. The sheriff serves a four-year term and has an annual salary of $78,566.
Clerk of courts
Republican incumbent James P. Troutman held onto his position, besting Democrat challenger Andrea Jefferson by more than 8,000 votes.
Troutman, 73, Hamburg, received 40,716 votes. Jefferson, 62, a county employee from Spring Township, received 32,074.
Troutman has served as clerk of courts since 1988. The clerk of courts serves a four-year term and is paid an annual salary of $78,566.