As the primary approaches, most voters in Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties will see a little competition for nominations in municipal races but few candidates for county posts.
Wyoming County
In the district attorney's race in Wyoming County, former district attorney George Skumanick Jr. is squaring off on the GOP ballot against newcomer Stephen Franko. The winner will take on Democratic incumbent Jeff Mitchell in the fall, unless Mr. Mitchell is successful in his write-in campaign for the Republican nomination.
Republican and Democrat voters will have little choice when it comes to those seeking nominations in Wyoming County's municipal races, though. In many cases, only one or two candidates have filed for each nomination.
In Clinton Twp., Brian M. Vail and Paul Corby are squaring off on the Republican ticket to replace township Supervisor Joe Bolin, who had been appointed to the position. In Exeter Twp., township Supervisor Steven Dructor is the lone candidate on the Democratic ballot. Former police chief Ed Grindall Jr. is running on the GOP ballot for the spot.
Falls Twp. Supervisor Robert Kenia is squaring off against Timothy Tomlin on the Republican ballot. In Windham Twp., incumbent Robert Otto is the lone Democrat running for township supervisor while Stephen Grow Jr. and Gary W. Brown are vying for the spot on the GOP ballot.
Forkston Twp. Supervisor William Severcool Jr. will be facing Kevin Ray on the Democratic ballot and Perle Goodwin is seeking the GOP nod. Nicholson Twp. Supervisor Duane White is on the GOP ballot and former supervisor William Smith is on the Democratic ticket.
In Overfield Twp., Gerald Fritsch Jr. is the lone Republican candidate for township supervisor and Wayne Beers is the lone Democrat.
Over in Eaton Twp., four people are seeking the vacancy created for the post being vacated by Janet Kristunas. Jullee Chamberlain, Judy Murach and Becky Watkins are seeking the nod on the Republican ballot, while Debra M. Barziloski is the lone Democrat.
Susquehanna County
It is the same story in Susquehanna County, where a few nominations for municipal candidates are contested.
In the Choconut Twp. supervisor's race, Republican incumbent William Dovin will face two challengers on the GOP ballot in May. Wayne Gittoes and Jan Myczewski are both seeking to unseat Mr. Dovin from the six-year position.
Liberty Twp.'s incumbent Supervisor Ted Plevinsky, a Republican, faces a challenge from Alton Wilber.
While Susan Rowe, the Oakland Twp. incumbent appointed to serve as a supervisor, faces no opposition for nomination on the Democratic primary ballot, Steven Furness Sr. and Richard Grausgruber are seeking the GOP nomination in the primary.
Ararat Twp. incumbent Tax Collector Richard Cottrell faces a primary challenge from Nicole Stone on the Republican ballot.
Incumbent Lenox Twp. tax collector Christine Henke, a Republican, faces a challenge from Dorothy Wallace.
And in the Montrose borough tax collector race, Elizabeth O'Malley is challenging longtime GOP incumbent David Colwell in the primary.
Several incumbent school directors are facing primary challenges. Jack Sible is taking on incumbent Diane Ives for the Elk Lake Region 2 seat. In the Mountain View district, incumbent Elwood Williams faces a challenge from Jason Casselbury for the Region 3B seat, and incumbent Dava Rinehart-Cowan is being challenged by Jason Richmond in the Region 3A race.
Wayne County
In Wayne County, there are no contested races for coroner, commissioner, district attorney, sheriff or other row offices.
But in the municipal races, an assortment of challengers are trying to unseat longtime incumbents who usually don't face much competition.
Paupack Twp. Supervisor Bruce Chandler, who has been a lawmaker in the Lake Wallenpaupack community for 24 years, will try to secure the Republican nomination in the upcoming primary. He faces two challengers for the Republican nomination, John Barnett and Randy Glosenger.
In Clinton Twp., incumbent Ken Coles is running against Ryan Wilmarth for the Republican nomination.
In Damascus Twp., Steven R. Adams is challenging incumbent Charles Grady for the Republican nomination. And in Texas Twp., incumbent Allan Wickle is squaring off against Paul Sprague for the Republican nomination.
Also, voters in the Western Wayne School District will see a familiar name on the ballot: retired school superintendent Andy Falonk.
Mr. Falonk and Waymart councilman Andrew Gaudenzi are running against incumbent board members Donald McDonough and James Salak for two positions representing Region 1, the Waymart area, in the primary.