As mail-in ballots begin to arrive in our mailboxes this weekend, it’s time to get serious about how to vote in the May primary election.
In-person voting will occur on May 16.
Many people do not view the primary as a “must-do” vote, but it is important, particularly in school district races, because most candidates “cross-file,” meaning Republicans show up on Democratic ballots, and vice versa.
Only the candidates that receive the most votes within each party will progress to the November Municipal Election.
This guide contains information about some of the many races that are occurring across the county and may be helpful to you as you cast your ballots.
We have taken the information below from candidates who submitted information to our election profile page. We encourage voters to visit that page before they head to the polls.
Gettysburg Borough Council:
Ward 1: Wes Heyser, current council president, is not running for re-election. On the ballot on the Democratic side, running unopposed, is Kierstan Belle.
Belle was a candidate for Gettysburg Mayor in 2021, serves as Chair of the Adams County Advisory Council to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and is an alternate to the Gettysburg Borough Planning Commission.
On the Republican side is Peter Bales.
Ward 3: For the Republicans, incumbent council member John Lawver faces Brian Hodges in the primary.
Hodges has lived in Ward 3 for 17 years, is a member of the Adams County Chamber of Commerce, Destination Gettysburg, Inns of the Gettysburg Area, and a former board member of the Adams Council Arts Council and the Gettysburg Zoning Hearing Board.
The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Alisha Sanders, running unopposed in the Democratic primary, in November.
Sanders is a board member at the Adams Gettysburg YWCA, the Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice, and the Lincoln Cemetery Project Association.
At large. Incumbent Democrat Chad-Alan Carr is running unopposed for this seat.
Gettysburg Area School District
Five of the nine seats on the board are open, which means that each voter may choose up to five candidates on their primary ballot.
Most of the candidates have cross-filed, which means they are listed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots.
Candidates in the primary include school board incumbents Al Moyer, Michael Dickerson, and Tim Seigman.
Dickerson, running for his 2nd term on the GASD board, is a Gettysburg High School graduate and has lived in Adams County since 1991.
Moyer has spent 36 years in public education as teacher and administrator, including 10 years as a school superintendent. Moyer currently serves as acting Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent in the Shippensburg Area School District. Moyer has a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership and has 6 grandchildren currently in the GASD system.
Alice Broadway is a Democrat who has previously served on the GASD board. She has cross-filed to appear on the Republican ballot.
Elizabeth Blanc is a Democrat and a mother of two children in the district. Blanc has worked in the PA House of Representatives and is now employed in the PA Department of Human Services. Her name will also appear on the Republican ballot.
Barb Sonafelt is a Cumberland Township resident originally from Monroeville PA. Sonafelt is a registered Republican who will also appear on the Democratic ballot.
Democrat Rachel Stull is the final candidate on the ballot.
Conewago Valley School District
Democratic candidate (cross-filed as Republican) Beth Farnham has lived in the district for 15 years and currently serves on the CVSD school board. Farnham has a degree in Biology, French, and Secondary Education and has children enrolled in CVSD schools.
Littlestown Area School District
Republican Luke Knotts has worked for the Littlestown Borough as a code enforcer.
Republican Duane Sullivan was a sole proprietor of his own business for over 25 years.
Upper Adams School District
Kay Hollabaugh (cross-filed as Republican and Democrat) has been a frequent volunteer at the district. She has been a business owner in the area and chaired many boards.
Deb Steckler (cross-filed as Republican and Democrat) has 2 children in the district and has been an active member of the Elementary and Intermediate PTOs. She is the current president of the Elementary PTO and has served in many community organizations.
Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.
Unpopular Opinion: Cross-filing should truly be disallowed and discouraged. Any “Democrat” who cross-files as a domestic terrorism-apologist, is likely no true champion of the separation of church and state, human rights or socioeconomic justice. As such, I fear that, that is particularly dangerous for secular, disability and LGBTQ+ rights in our local municipalities, both now and for the foreseeable future. Candidates should be required to be honest about their intentions for current and future generations, instead of being allowed to win a local popularity contest. Stop being so afraid of being an actual Democrat in Adams County, especially those of… Read more »
Thanks for the info Chuck!
To help out “Kierstan 4 Council” regarding volunteering, donations, etc visit kierstan4council.com.
Will you be adding the Carrol Valley/Fairfield school board positions to your guide?
I would like to add the FASD candidates but none of them have sent us any information.
They can do so here:
https://gettysburgconnection.org/candidates/