All but one of six Scranton School Board candidates secured party nominations Tuesday to advance and appear on November’s municipal election ballot, with incumbent board Vice President Danielle Chesek earning the most votes in both the Democratic and Republican primaries, unofficial election results show.
In the race where five of the six candidates were cross-filed, meaning they sought both Democratic and Republican nominations, political newcomer Julien M. Wells was the lone candidate not to secure one, the other or both. There were four Democratic and four GOP nominations to be won Tuesday, as four seats on the nine-member school board are up for grabs this year.
Chesek, recently appointed School Director Jenna Strzelecki and retired district Chief Information Officer Joe Brazil won nominations on both the Democratic and Republican ballots, collectively claiming six of the eight nominations available between the two parties. Former School Director Carol J. Cleary, running only as a Democrat, also won a Democratic nomination, while former Scranton City Council candidate John Howe won a nomination on the Republican ballot, according to unofficial results.
With all 163 precincts countywide and all 48 in the city reporting results, candidates and their vote totals on the Democratic ballot are: Chesek, 5,132; Strzelecki, 4,628; Brazil, 4,177; Cleary, 3,998; Wells, 1,978; and Howe, 1,845.
On the Republican ballot, totals are: Chesek, 1,123; Brazil, 1,085; Strzelecki, 1,056; Howe, 990; and Wells, 664.
The top four vote-getters in each partisan primary earn spots on the November ballot. Wells fell short by finishing fifth in both. Tuesday’s results are unofficial until certified by the county Board of Elections.
Chesek’s position atop both the Democratic and GOP primaries for Scranton school director comes as she pursues a second four-year term on the board of the county’s largest school district, having first won election in 2021. The board voted 6-3 in December to make her vice president.
“I know a lot has happened the last four years,” Chesek said late Tuesday. “I worked really hard (and am) very dedicated to the Scranton School District and the students, and I think that that shows. The voters came out. They are appreciative of the progress that the district has made, so I’m very honored that they voted for me and I get to continue what I started.”
Among other progress, the district exited state financial recovery in early 2023.
Strzelecki, meanwhile, advances to November’s municipal election after being appointed to a vacant board seat late last month.
“I’m just very excited and very honored that I’m going to have the opportunity to run … and hope to retain my board seat,” she said.
Brazil also said he was honored to secure nominations, noting there was no acrimony between any of the candidates.
“They’re a great group of people who ran, every one of them,” he said. “I think every single one of them would do a great job and I’m just happy to be one of them.”
Cleary was previously appointed to fill a vacant seat on the school board in January 2022 and served until December 2023. By winning a Democratic nomination, she cleared a hurdle Tuesday in her pursuit of a potential return.
“I’m very excited,” Cleary said. “It’s been a lot of hard work. I’m thrilled to be given this opportunity to return to the school board and finish what I started.”
Howe, who earned a GOP nomination by finishing fourth in that five-person field, said he was humbled.
“I believe that all the candidates were great options and that come November I hope to secure a lot more (votes) than just what I secured today,” he said. “I’m going to get out more and hopefully earn the trust of more voters, and I appreciate those that went out and believed in me and cast their vote today on both sides.”
School directors serve without compensation. Unofficial election results are available online at lackawannacounty.org.