Hellertown's Bill Rowe and NorCo Council President Kerry Myers both got knocked off the ballot in their attempts to seek a spot on County Council. Bill Rowef, a first-time candidate, was seeking the Republican nomination in District One (Bethlehem) and made one mistake. He failed to file a copy of his financial statement with the Clerk of County Council. That is unfortunately a fatal error. Unlike Rowe, Myers has experience as an office holder. He was seeking the Democratic nomination in District Two (Easton). He failed to get signatures from 250 Democrats who live in his district.
District 1 (Bethlehem area)
Rowe waged a successful write-in contest on the Republican side for the Bethlehem area County Council district. Of 451 write-in votes cast, he got 321 votes. Democrat Ken Kraft, who won the Democratic nomination, attempted a write-in campaign among Republicans. He pulled in 52 votes. There were 67 votes designated as "not assigned."
This race will continue in the Fall, with Bill Rowe squaring off against Ken Kraft.
District 2 (Easton area)
After being knocked off the ballot as a Democrat, Myers switched parties and campaigned for the Republican write-in nomination in the Easton area County Council district. Forks Tp Supervisor Kelly Keegan was running unchallenged for the Democratic nomination.
The Republican party hierarchy backed Myers. Party chair Glen Geissinger, flanked by three Republican members of County Council, endorsed Myers at a news conference. But Myers failed to get the required 250 write-in votes.
Of 299 write-in votes cast, Myers attracted 197 votes. Democrat Kelly Keegan, who waged a write-in campaign on the Republican side of the aisle, pulled down 34 votes. There were also 68 "scattered write-ins.
This race is over, Barring an unlikely independent candidate, Kelly Keegan will be the next County Council member in District 2. Myers is now officially a lame duck.
