Campaign signs outside Camp Curtin Middle School.
Harrisburg polling places were quiet Tuesday morning, with those voters who did trickle in saying they cast their ballot based on city issues such as safety, finances and the state of the Broad Street Market.
On the morning of Tuesday’s municipal primary election, voters turned out in modest numbers, with a percentage of voters also expected to vote by mail, to vote for local offices, such as Harrisburg mayor, City Council and school board.
Dauphin County typically has a lower turnout for municipal election years, especially for primaries. However, in Harrisburg important seats for offices such as the mayor and council are typically determined by the primary, as Harrisburg is a heavily Democratic city. This year, all five candidates for mayor and all 13 council candidates are Democrats, meaning that they will have no competition on November’s ballot.
At one of the typically busiest polling places in the city, Camp Curtain Middle School in Uptown, campaign volunteers told TheBurg that only around 30 people had come to vote by about 9 a.m. Volunteers at Second City Church in Midtown estimated the same.
Several voters said that they always voted in local elections. Many shared that they were voting in hopes to see change and improvements in the city.
“The gun violence in Harrisburg is very disheartening to me and I would like to see something solutions-based,” said Craig Gittens, who works in juvenile services.
Gittens said that he voted for activist Tone Cook for mayor, believing that he would be able to relate to the city’s youth, as he’s also had experience with the criminal justice system.
Two residents, Mari-Beth DeLucia and Kelly O’Neill, said that they too were concerned about crime, but also road safety on N. Front Street and the city’s handling of the Broad Street Market rebuild, which has not yet begun construction after a July 2023 fire in the brick building.
Both said that they voted for current City Treasurer Dan Miller, O’Neill adding that Miller has financial management experience.
“He’s the most qualified to deal with that here in the city,” she said.
Voter and local artist Reina “R76” explained that she was supporting current councilman Lamont Jones for mayor, and volunteering for his campaign at the polls, because she believes he will support the art community in Harrisburg.
“He was willing to sit with me and visit my studio,” she said. “He supports my art agenda.”
Charles Henderson also supported Jones, lauding his relationship with city council members, something that he believes is lacking with the current mayor, who is often at odds with council.
“You can’t have a bad attitude and not want to work with council because you need them,” he said.
Campaign volunteers advertising support for incumbent Mayor Wanda Williams were also stationed at polling places in their bright yellow “Wanda Williams” shirts. Williams’ husband Jerome Williams was also seen dressed in a suit, strolling into his Uptown polling location to vote.
Several homemade signs for mayoral candidate Lewis Butts were spotted around the city.
Candidates for offices such as city controller, Dauphin County clerk of courts, county prothonotary and county coroner are also on the ballot.
The polls are open until 8 p.m. tonight. Mail-in ballots can be returned to the county elections office at 1251 S. 28th St. or to one of seven drop boxes and must be received by 8 p.m. After polls close, the Dauphin County Election’s Bureau will begin processing and posting the results to their website.
For more information, visit the county’s website or call 717-780-6360.
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