Dems Sweep Philadelphia Row, Judicial Offices
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There's a new sheriff in town. Pennsylvania state representative Jewell Williams was the strong leader to become the next Philadelphia sheriff, leading Republican Joshua West and the Green Party candidate, activist Cheri Honkala. The winner will succeed acting sheriff Barbara Deeley, who took over after longtime sheriff John Green resigned this year amid a financial accounting scandal.
Incumbent register of wills Ron Donatucci, who was seeking his ninth term in office, was leading Republican challenger Linda Bateman by a margin of about 3-1.
Philadelphia voters also chose three city commissioners -- the folks who run the elections. Longtime commissioner Marge Tartaglione, touched by the DROP controversy, lost in the primary and was not on the ballot.
The four candidates were incumbent Democrat Anthony Clark, Democratic challenger Stephanie Singer, incumbent Republican Joseph Duda, and Republican challenger Al Schmidt. The minority party is guaranteed one of the three seats; with 73 percent of the voting precincts counted, Schmidt was leading Duda by about 8,000 votes.
Among candidates for judicial offices, Democratic candidates appeared headed for easy victories as judges in Common Pleas Court, Municipal Court, and Traffic Court.
Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio 1060 and Ed Fischer, CBS Philly
