Mark Steelman has soundly secured the position of Wayne County Sheriff, according to unofficial election results.

With all 35 percincts reporting, Steelman, who has been acting sheriff since March, collected 7,101 votes (72 percent). Challenger Michael O’Day Sr. gained 2,543 (26 percent).

Steelman remarked as the returns were wrapping up, “I thank God for another blessing in my life.” Thanking his committee, family and friends, he pledged that he will serve as a sheriff that can be respected by everyone.

Said O’Day, “I feel really good; I met a lot of really good people. I kept it above board.” He said it came down to the candidate who won, had the most funds to spend. While disappointed, he said he was humbled by the support he received, and said it was a personal win, in that he witnessed how the people of Wayne County believe in our system of government.

 In the contested seat for Magisterial District Judge 22-3-02, Central Wayne, Ted Mikulak won, with 1,664 votes, trumping attorney Warren Schloesser who received 1,389.

Mikulak, a plumbing contractor, said after the results were in, “I feel good. I thank the voters, the men and women who went to war for us ,who gave us the freedom to pick and choose who we want.” Asked how he attributed his win, “I guess the working people just wanted a working guy.”
Four seats were open on Honesdale Council with six people running. Top four vote-getters were Lee Garing (incumbent); Janine Edwards; Robert Jennings and Thomas Frisk. Incumbents James Brennan and Marjorie Rickard, both Democrats, were in sixth and fifth place, respectively. Rickard, however, lost by only two votes to Frisk, a former Honesdale Police Chief. This is one race where watching the final count will be essential.

 There was a major change in Hawley Borough, where voters unseated long-time Republican Mayor Ann R. Morgan, in favor of David Hawk, a Democrat. Morgan, who has served as mayor 28 years and was on Council six years prior to that, received 147 votes, a full 100 votes shy of Hawk. The voter turnout in Hawley was 51.2 percent.

Hawley Council members were on hand to congratulate Hawk at the Courthouse when Hawley Council’s ballots were counted and announced. Hawk stated immediately afterwards, “It feels pretty good,”  and  said he found “You can’t win a campaign alone” as he credited his family and friends for their hard work.

Hawk was appointed to Hawley Council two years ago and was on Hawley Area (sewer) Authority about 15 years.

In Berlin Township, long-time Township secretary Cathy Hunt earned a seat on the Board of Supervisors, ousting challenger Scott Taninies.

Preliminary results for contested races across Wayne County, Pa., are given below. Write-in candidates and results are unofficial and are not being reported by the Bureau of Elections until after the official computation. This will begin on Friday, November 6.

In the list below, D is for Democrat, and R is for Republican. The apparent winner is noted by an asterisk (*).
• Wayne County Sheriff
Michael O’Day Sr. (D) 2,543
*Mark Steelman (R) 7,101
• Jury Commissioners
Patricia Biondo )D) 2897
*Judy Romich (R) 6005
• Magisterial District Judge 22-3-02
Warren Schloesser (D) 1,389
*Ted Mikulak (R) 1,664
Municipal Races
• Berlin Township Supervisors- 2 year
(Berlin-1, Berlin-2)
Scott Taninies (D) 146 + 131 = 277
*Catherine Hunt (R) 180 + 179 = 359
• Buckingham Township Tax Collector
Patricia A. Kellam (Allen) (D) 68
*Michelle B. Geer (R) 100
• Clinton Township Tax Collector
(Clinton-1, Clinton-2)
Daniel J. Fitzsimmons (D) 92 + 184= 276
*Marianne L. Thorpe (R) 205 + 86 = 291
• Damascus Township Supervisors- 6 year
(Damascus-1, Damascus-2)
*Jeffrey R. Dexter (D) 167+244=411
William J. Gager (R) 194+178=372
• Hawley Mayor
*David Hawk (D) 247
Ann R. Morgan (R) 147
• Honesdale Council
Elect four
(Hones-1, Hones-2, Hones-3)
Margie Rickard (D)121+212+200= 533
James Leo Brennan Jr. (D) 105+132+113= 350
*Lee Garing (D) 134+263+187=584
*Bob Jennings (R) 145+208+203=556
*Thomas K. Frisk (R) 139+223+173=535
*Janine Edwards (R)149+250+183=582
• Honesdale Constable
(Hones-1, Hones-2, Hones-3)
Harry A. DeVrieze (D) 44+121+78=243
*Kevin R. Breidenstein (R) 205+256+242= 703
• Lehigh Township Supervisors- 6 year
David J. Boruta (D) 178
*Glen Martin (R) 235
• South Canaan Supervisors- 6 year
Thomas Liptak (D) 156
*Frank Lamberton Jr. (R) 191
• Sterling Supervisors- 6 year
Joseph Stezar (D) 73
*Tim Tuite (R) 165
School Board
• Forest City Regional School District
Region -1 (Clinton-2)
Rita Lowry (D) 119
* Linda Zefran (R) 153.