Democrats selected incumbent Pat Rogan and candidates Joe Wechsler and William Gaughan to represent them in a currently uncontested general election in the fall, nearly assuring their seats on Scranton City Council.
The top vote-getter, Mr. Rogan, with nearly 6,000 votes with five of 163 precincts remaining, said Democratic voters gave him a second term because of his independence, having voted against the mayor and fellow council members.
"I stand with the citizens and I never went along to get along," he said.
Political newcomers were sidelined. Neither Joe Matyjevich, Greg Evans nor Mr. Perry have held political office or been involved in government. They were defeated.
There were no Republican candidates.
Also expected to run uncontested in the general election will be Mr. Gaughan. The former employee of the city's Office of Economic and Community Development will be one of the youngest council members in Scranton's history at age 26.
As votes rolled in, Mr. Wechsler's and Mr. Perry's tally were close and each candidate hoped to place. But in the end Mr. Wechsler, a fixture in East Mountain neighborhood organizations, made the cut.
"People in Scranton want change and quality people in office," he said. "I'm optimistic about Scranton come January."
Scranton will likely begin 2013 with a new mayor and a new council, possibly ending years of acrimony between a divided government.
The council candidates showed their ability to refrain from squabbling and mud slinging, running a cordial campaign in which each pledging to cooperate with the other - and the new mayor - to solve the city's problems.
Contact the writer: dfalchek@timesshamrock.com
Scranton city council DeMocrats
âPat Rogan 5,999
âBill Gaughan 5,612
âJoe Wechsler 4,665
Tim Perry 4,200
Joe Matyjevich 2,942
Greg Evans 2,858