Published Tuesday, November 5, 2002
at polls
Herald Copy Editor
Today is Election Day and voters who head to the polls will elect governors, state and federal legislators and decide ballot questions.
While governorships and more are on the line in Pennsylvania, Ohio and the rest of the nation, local elections officials don't expect turnout to be stellar for the off-year election.
Mercer County Election Director James Bennington said he's only predicting about 25 percent of the county's voters will visit the polls today.
"We don't expect any riots," Bennington said.
If anything brings out county voters, Bennington said, it would probably be the gubernatorial race between Democrat Ed Rendell and Republican Mike Fisher or the 50th District state Senate contest between incumbent Republican Robert D. "Bob" Robbins of Salem Township and Democrat Kyle Klaric of Hermitage.
In Ohio, the 17th District congressional race between Democrat Tim Ryan, Republican Ann Womer Benjamin and jailed former U.S. Rep. James Traficant is likely to draw voters. If Traficant -- who is serving a federal prison sentence for taking bribes while in office -- wins, the race would make political history.
A slate of state offices are also on the Ohio ballot, including the governor's. Incumbent Republican Bob Taft faces Democrat Tim Hagan.
Congressional races on the Pennsylvania side of the border are less sensational. Incumbent Republican Phil English, Erie, is battling Green Party candidate AnnDrea Benson of Edinboro in the renamed 3rd District, which includes most of Mercer County. Voters in Farrell, West Middlesex, Shenango Township and a sliver of Hermitage, now in the 4th District, face a choice between incumbent Republican Melissa Hart of Bradford Woods and Democrat Stevan Drobac of Monaca. Hart and English are favored to win re-election.
On the state legislative front, only one of the county's three state representatives faces a challenge this year. Rep. Dick Stevenson, Grove City, R-8th District, faces Democrat Mark A. Lauer, Butler County.
Voters in Shenango Township face the only municipal election in the county today when they choose two additional supervisors. Last year, voters decided to enlarge the township's three-man board of supervisors to five. Democrat Richard Flack is running for both the five- and three-year seats against Republicans Mark G. Preston and Louis V. Colella, respectively.
Pennsylvania voters are also being asked to vote yes or no on a state referendum that will authorize the state Legislature to borrow up to $100 million for volunteer fire departments and other emergency services.
Across the line in Ohio, Brookfield and Hubbard-area voters will decide a three-way race for 65th District state representative, choosing Republican James A. Calko Jr., Democrat Sandra Stabile Harwood or independent Werner Lange.
Trumbull County voters will also elect a county commissioner. Republican Don Manning and Democrat James G. Tsagaris are running for the office.
Brookfield Local School District voters are being asked to renew a five-year, 1-mill tax levy to pay for school renovations and improvements.