At Least Four Newcomers Win Seats on Abington Board

Of the nine races yesterday for seats on the Abington Board of Commissioners, two incumbents were ousted … and two races ended in a tie, according to unofficial results from the county.

Ousted were Republican Robert Wachter of Ward 2 and Republican Matthew Willis of Ward 7.

Democrat Michael Markman defeated Wachter by about 60 votes, according to the county’s unofficial results late Tuesday night. And newcomer Ben Sanchez defeated relatively-new commissioner Willis by about 450 votes for a two-year term in Ward 7.

Incumbent Republican commissioner Stephen Kalinoski defeated challenger Steve Torres for the seat in Ward 6 by 40 votes; current board president Peggy Myers, beat Democratic challenger D. Gregory Holt handily for Ward 8; incumbent Thomas Farren defeated Democrat Joseph Smith in Ward 12; and incumbent Democrat Lori Schreiber beat challenger Jack Howarth in Ward 14.

Newcomer Democrat Tom Hecker defeated challenger Jamie Maerz by about 100 votes to take the seat in Ward 10.

The races for Ward 3 and Ward 4, both ended in a tie.

Incumbent Lawrence Jones, a Republican, and former commissioner Michael O’Connor, both garnered 510 votes in Ward 3. 

Newcomers Pamela Vasserman, a Republican, and Democrat Jimmy DiPlacido both brought in 577 votes in Ward 4, according to the unofficial results.

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Check back later for an update.

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From the county's unofficial results:

Ward 2

• Robert Wachter, 310, 46 percent
• Michael Markman, 371, 54 percent

Ward 3 (Two-year term)

• Lawrence Jones, 510
• Michael O’Connor, 510

Ward 4

• Pamela Vasserman, 577
• Jimmy DiPlacido, 577

Ward 6

• Stephen Kalinoski, 383, 53 percent
• Steve Torres, 343, 47 percent

Ward 7 (Two-year term)

• Matthew Willis, 283, 28 percent
• Ben Sanchez, 734, 72 percent

Ward 8

• Peggy Myers, 583, 65 percent
• D. Gregory Holt, 318, 35 percent

Ward 10

• Jamie Maerz, 446, 40 percent
• Tom Hecker 656, 60 percent

Ward 12

• Thomas Farren 548, 60 percent
• Joseph Smith, 362, 40 percent

Ward 14

• Jack Howarth, 280, 36 percent
• Lori Schreiber, 497, 64 percent