A polling station on State Street in Harrisburg.
Harrisburg voters will face an almost entirely Democratic field in the upcoming municipal election, as the final slate is firm for the Nov. 7 ballot.
Incumbent Mayor Eric Papenfuse appears to be a shoo-in for a second term, as activist Chris Siennick, who insisted earlier in the year that he would run as an independent and even asked to be included in the primary election debates, never filed for the general election. So, his name won’t appear on the ballot.
Siennick confirmed last night that he failed to turn in nominating petitions for an independent run and added that he might consider a write-in candidacy.
Papenfuse, a Democrat, also will appear on the Republican side of the ballot, as he gained that nomination by getting enough Republican write-in votes in the primary.
For Harrisburg City Council, Councilman Dave Madsen will run unopposed, as the Dauphin County Republican Committee failed to nominate a candidate for the two-year seat, which opened up after the unexpected resignation of former Councilman Jeffrey Baltimore in August. County Democrats nominated Madsen earlier this month.
Incumbents Wanda Williams, Shamaine Daniels and Ben Allatt and newcomer Ausha Green all won their Democratic primary contests in May for four, four-year council seats. They face no Republican opposition.
Harrisburg school board is the only municipal body with a contested election. In that race, voters will choose among Democratic nominees Danielle Robinson, Judd Pittman, Carrie Fowler and Brian Carter and Republican nominee James Thompson for four, four-year seats. In the primary, Thompson, an incumbent, cross-filed as both a Democrat and a Republican, but lost the Democratic race. Democrat Percel Eiland is running unopposed for a single, two-year seat on school board.
Other unopposed candidates in Harrisburg include Democratic incumbents Dan Miller for city treasurer and Charlie DeBrunner for city controller.
For magisterial district justice in Harrisburg, incumbent Barbara Pianka is running unopposed in District 12-1-02, as is David O’Leary in District 12-1-04. In District 12-1-05, Democrat Hanif Johnson will face off against Republican nominee Claude Phipps, who cross-filed in the primary.
In Dauphin County, the open seat for prothonotary pits Democrat Diane Bowman against Republican Matthew Krupp. For coroner, incumbent Graham Hetrick is running unopposed, having gained the nominations of both major parties.
For Dauphin County judge, voters will have a choice of four candidates for three seats. Judge Lori Serratelli will be on the Democratic side and Republican attorney John McNally on the Republican side of the ballot. County District Attorney Ed Marsico and attorney Royce Morris will be listed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots.
