Some reel, others relish primary results

Fallout from the primary election continued across the Philadelphia suburbs Wednesday as some candidates prepared to challenge close results and others celebrated or reeled from upsets.

In Coatesville, two judicial candidates said they would pursue complaints against the primary winner, incumbent Magisterial District Judge Grover Koon, over his campaign conduct.

Jacquelyn Carter said Koon distributed mailers with confidential information about a protection-from-abuse-order she had obtained - in a case in which Koon presided.

"We believe that he's completely unfit to be a judge," said Brian McGinnis, chairman of the Chester County Democratic Committee, which endorsed Carter.

She said she filed a complaint with the state Judicial Conduct Board. Another candidate, Charles Ricky Campbell, said he filed a similar complaint, but declined to discuss details.

Koon, a Republican, won the Democratic and Republican nominations Tuesday. He did not return calls seeking comment.

In a race for commissioner in Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, activist Brad Pransky said he was surprised by his nearly 3-1 ratio of victory over Harvey Portner, a Democrat who had held the post since 1987 and is board president.

Pransky, a technology consultant who serves on the township's economic development and zoning boards, said he hoped to pave the way for more commercial development in one of the region's most-taxed municipalities.

"The difference will be, when stuff comes forward, it won't get stopped at the commissioners' desk, it will move forward," he said.

Other races proved tighter.

In Lower Merion, two incumbent commissioners - Board President Elizabeth Rogan and George Manos - fended off Democratic challenges from two well-funded political newcomers. Rogan held her seat by only 34 votes.

In Methacton School District, in western Montgomery County, a school board candidate who lost the Republican endorsement amid allegedly racist comments, also lost the nomination Tuesday.

In two of Bucks County's largest school districts, newcomers celebrated victories over incumbents.

In Neshaminy, critics of that board's vote to close three elementary schools, build a larger elementary school and move fifth graders to the middle schools were rewarded by toppling three sitting school board members. "The current board refused to listen to the will of the people," said Robert Sanna Jr., one winner who, like the others, cross-filed.

In Central Bucks, voters ousted two incumbent board members over changes to middle school schedules and the firing of personnel, including a high school football coach whose players had been accused of hazing.

"There has been a lack of a public process in any decision-making," said Beth Darcy, who won the nomination for an open seat.

Other races were so close that challenges were likely. West Chester Borough Councilman Stephen Shinn lost the Democratic nomination for his ward by 3 votes to challenger Jim Jones, who was on the council from 2008 to 2012.

Shinn said a challenge was "probably warranted." Jones also won on the GOP ballot.

Races in Warwick, Charlestown, Franklin and Tredyffrin Townships and Downingtown, Oxford and Kennett Square Boroughs had margins of victory of fewer than 10 votes or less than one percentage point.

In the city of Chester, State Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland was relishing a win in the Democratic mayoral primary over incumbent John Linder.

"I think voters elected me because of my integrity and because I was very upfront," said Kirkland, who faces former Mayor Wendell Butler in the general election. "Monday morning, we're back in it to win it."