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Northumberland County Commissioner Race Brings Out Voters

SUNBURY — One race that’s bringing people out to the polls in Northumberland County is the commissioners’ race. Three seats are open and only ...

SUNBURY -- One race that's bringing people out to the polls in Northumberland County is the commissioners' race. Three seats are open and only one incumbent is running again.

The current Northumberland County commissioners consist of a Democrat, a Republican and an Independent. The three have disagreed a lot over the past four years and people who we spoke with say they are looking forward to change.

There was a steady stream of voters walking into the polling place at Special Occasions on Second Street in Sunbury.

While many say they voted because they do every year, some say it is the Northumberland County commissioners' race that brought them to the polls.

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"Some of the actions of the commissioners we have now have been ridiculous. They've pushed things through, whatever they wanted," said Sunbury resident Sally Swope.

The current Northumberland County commissioners may not see eye to eye all the time, but there are about to be some changes to the board. Commissioners Vinny Clausi and Steve Bridy decided not to seek reelection.

Rick Shoch is the only incumbent on the ballot.

"A lot of times with local elections, some people don't really know too many of the candidates, but with the commissioners race, I think some people are trying to be more informed, know more about who they're going to be electing," said Jesse Elliot from Mount Carmel.

Elliott is a poll worker in Northumberland County. He says his precinct usually hits 100 voters around dinnertime. This day, they got 100 voters before 11 a.m. He says that's because of the commissioners' race.

"A lot of people have different opinions on it and I think a big part of that is people coming out to try to make a change."

Everyone Newswatch 16 spoke with about the commissioners' race says their biggest concern is what's going to happen with the Northumberland County Prison.

"Some of the candidates are going to want to keep it as is and repair it, and other ones want to build a new one," said Robert Klinger of Sunbury.

All three commissioner seats are open. Besides Shoch, Republican Sam Schiccatano and Democrats Kymberley Best and George Zalar are running.

Swope says she hopes whoever is elected will improve Northumberland County.

"It's not going forward. Some of these actions here are doing nothing more than putting the county in debt."

Whoever wins the Northumberland County commissioner race will get a smaller salary. Commissioners will be paid $36,000 a year in 2016 instead of $61,000.

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