On November 8, an independent candidate, Stephen Bridy, was elected to the Northumberland County Commission. Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, holds partisan elections for this office, and elects all three members at-large. See this story.
The election was close. Parties can only run two nominees in these elections, so there were only five candidates running. The two Democratic candidates, both incumbents, received these votes: Vinny Clausi 7,456; Frank Sawicki 5,545. The lone Republican incumbent, Merle Phillips, received 5,475; and the other Republican nominee, Rick Shoch, received 7,960. The independent received 5,828, enough to win the third slot.
It is rare for candidates who are not Republican or Democratic nominees to win important office in Pennsylvania, partly because of the straight-ticket device. No one other than a Republican or Democratic nominee has been elected to the legislature since 1934, when two Socialist Party nominees won. However, in 1980 an independent was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from a Philadelphia district.
Northumberland County has a population of 94,528 and is in the center of the state. The county seat is Sunbury.
Pingback: Independent Elected to Northumberland County, Pennsylvania County Commission | ThirdPartyPolitics.us
In Pennsylvania, most Counties have County Commissioners (a few have a County Council). With Commissioners, there are three Commissioners. Each Party can nominate two candidates for three positions. The voters can only cast two votes for Commissioner. Northumberland County has had Commissioner issues for years. There is a strong independent streak there. The Reform Party tried to run a candidate for Commissioner there a few years back but he was kept off the ballot on a technicality (long story).
#2, thank you. I amended the post.