Davidson Wins Reelection in Close Recorder of Deeds Race

The only Centre County row office race that was too close to call on election night has been decided.

Republican incumbent Joseph Davidson won reelection to a seventh term as recorder of deeds, defeating Democratic challenger Robert Zeigler by 49 votes, 19,418 to 19,369.

The county elections office completed counting of provisional and absentee ballots on Tuesday and updated the pre-certified election results on Wednesday.

“Thank you to the county election officials for their hard work in completing the vote-counting process,” Davidson wrote in a Facebook post. “I am grateful that Centre County voters have entrusted me to serve them for another four years as Recorder of Deeds.”

Zeigler, who was separately reelected as a Millheim borough councilman, congratulated Davidson and conceded the recorder’s race in a message to supporters on Tuesday night.

“While we did not win the election, there is room for many positive consequences of our campaign,” Zeigler wrote. “My message was issue focused – advocating for affordable housing, veteran’s services, rural representation and more. My platform was centered around what I heard from thousands of voters across Centre County. Mr. Davidson did engage in discussing these initiatives, and we can only hope that he will make them a priority in the Recorder of Deeds office over the next four years.”

With Davidson’s victory, all county row office incumbents won re-election. Treasurer Colleen Kennedy (D) defeated Justin Behrens (R), and Controller Jason Moser (D) defeated Trevor Stauffer (R) in the only other contested races.

Coroner Scott Sayers (D), Prothonotary Jeremy Breon (D), Register of Wills Christine Millinder (R) and Sheriff Bryan Sampsel (R) all won reelection without challenge.

Incumbent Centre County Commissioners Amber Concepcion (D), Mark Higgins (D) and Steve Dershem (R) also retained their seats, outpacing Marie Librizzi (R) who came in fourth in the race for the three seats.

MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL BOARD RACES

Several elections for school board and municipal boards of supervisors and council seats that were too close to call have also been decided, with the leaders on election night holding on for victories.

BELLEFONTE AREA SCHOOL BOARD

Democratic incumbent Donna Smith won the fifth of five seats up for election, beating Republican Darrell Sharp by 20 votes. Win 4 Bellefonte Republican candidates Jennifer Barnhart, Patrick Vincent Buck, Tim Kessling and Kimberly Weaver (incumbent) won the other four spots.

Sharp wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday that he would not concede but would not request a recount.

“The BASD community has spoken and made their selection for who they collectively feel will best represent them on the school board,” Sharp wrote. “I will not concede nor call for a recount. When the vote tally is deemed official, those numbers should be respected and regarded as the final results. If Donna Smith has the higher vote count then she will earn the 5th available seat. She has board member experience and provides value on the board, especially advocating for BASD and school funding reform in Harrisburg. The board will benefit from that experience.

“Regardless of the outcome, I would like to stress that the work of the community is not done. I encourage all residents to stay involved, stay informed, and ensure all candidates, as well as the current board members, are held accountable for executing the promises and commitments that have been made.”

PENNS VALLEY AREA SCHOOL BOARD

Democratic incumbent Scott Butler unofficially defeated The Valleys’ Voice slate Republican candidate Molly Miller by seven votes for the fourth of four Penns Valley School Board at-large seats up for election. Pending certification, Butler will join Democratic incumbent Domer Smeltzer and Valleys’ Voice Republicans Dan Hall and Kim Kellerman-Domin in winning the four seats.

Daniel Pick (D/R) was the only candidate on the ballot for the Penns Valley School Board Region 1 seat.

At-large seats

Region 1 Seat

BELLEFONTE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Democratic incumbent Joanne Tosti-Vasey maintained her election night lead for Bellefonte Borough Council Ward 3, defeating Republican Christopher Morelli by 60 votes, 284 to 224.

Deborah Cleeton (D) and Randy Brachbill (R) were uncontested for the two Ward 2 seats up for election, and Douglas Johnson won the uncontested Ward 1 election.

HALFMOON TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Democratic nominees Tammy Perkins and Patti Hartle (incumbent) are the apparent winners in a close race for two positions on the Halfmoon Township Board of Supervisors, outpacing Republican candidates Steven Schellberg and Rose Anne Hoover (incumbent).

CENTRE HALL BOROUGH COUNCIL

Results for the Centre Hall Borough Council were unchanged from election night, with Republican Luann Yearick and Democrats Christine Cooper (incumbent), Matt Powell and Patrick Kelly (incumbent) winning the four seats up for election.