Few contests in Berks County races in Mercury coverage area

One would be hardpressed to claim that local election fever has gripped the southeast region of Berks County.

In The Mercury’s coverage area, there are only four municipalities with contested races, if you don’t count the Berks County commissioners race.

In that race, after a heated and close primary race, incumbent Republican Christian Leinbach and runningmate Michael Rivera will face off against incumbent Democrat Kevin Barnhardt and Reading City Councilwoman Donna Reed for the three open seats on the board of commissioners. Election Day is Nov. 5. As in previous years, subsequent coverage of individual races will rely upon candidates providing responses to a seven-question survey posted online through Survey Monkey.

The web address is https://www.surveymonkey. com/r/86QLVCW and all responses are due by Oct. 25. Due to the volume, candidates will not be contacted individually and are responsible for filling out the survey questions.

Below is a summary of the contested races as they appear on the Berks County candidate list.

(If you do not see your municipality listed, it means those running for office are uncontested, as is the case with the Daniel Boone School Board, Bally, Bechtelsville, Birdsboro, Boyertown, Amity, Colebrookdale, Douglass (Berks), Earl and Hereford.)

A complete spreadsheet of all races and all candidates in the areas of Berks County covered by The Mercury is now posted on The Mercury website’s election page at www.pottsmerc.com and further election coverage will be posted there as it occurs.

As a public service, this page https://pottstownmercury.wixsite.com/tricountyelections is not subject to the paywall limitations of the regular website.

School Boards

The Boyertown Area School District has three elections in two regions.

• In Region 1, which includes Bally, Bechtelsville, Earl, Colebrookdale, Washington incumbent Democrat Rodney Boyer and incumbent Republican Christine Neiman will battle for the single open seat with a four-year term. In the race for the single seat with two years remaining in the term, Melody McWherter is the only candidate.

• In Region 2, which, in Berks County, includes Boyertown and Douglass (Berks), three candidates are seeking two open seats with four-year terms. Lisa Hogan won both a Republican and Democratic line in the spring primary. James Brophy will appear on the other Republican line and Heather Stehman will appear on the other Democratic line.

Boroughs

There are no contested races in any of the boroughs covered by The Mercury. In fact, Bechtelsville has three open seats on its borough council and no candidates running, and Bally has two seats with two-year terms open and only one candidate.

Townships

• Earl Township has two races for two seats on its three-member board of commissioners. Incumbent William G. Moyer is unopposed for the seat with a six-year term. However two candidates, Brian Filby and Robert Caso, are competing for a seat with a four-year term. Filby is the Democrat and Caso is the Republican.

• Union Township has two contested races for two seats. Incumbent Democrat Terry Kennedy faces a challenge from Republican Isaac Jones for a seat with a six-year term. In the second race, Democrat Anthony Bohars is facing off against Republican Andrew Basile for a seat with a four-year term.

• Washington Township voters will have a choice between incumbent Republican David Moyer and Democratic challenge Jayme Benfield for the single open seat on the three-member board of supervisors. It carries a six-year term.