Republican Candidates Sweep Moon Municipal Elections

As the results rolled in over , the crowd erupted in applause.

Moon Township Republicans gathered Tuesday evening at the Montour Heights Country Club, where they celebrated overwhelming victories on the and in municipal races.

Members of the self-described "Citizens for Education" ticket unseated incumbent Moon Area School Board members Mark Scappe, Lisa Wolowicz, Rosemarie Varsanik, James Donohue and first-time candidate Danny Barefoot. Scappe has served on the board since 1999.

In January, Gia Tatone, Dennis Harbaugh, Mike Olszewski, Laura Schisler and Samuel Tranter will begin four-year terms on the board. Ron Steele was elected to the two-year term on the board.

Schisler, Tranter and Steele each has previously served on the school board.

Incumbent Andrew Gribben was re-elected to the Moon Board of Supervisors alongside Republican John Hertzer. The ticket bested Democratic nominees Bill Napierski and Craig Swen.

"Stability in the township," Gribben said of the issue he believed was most on voters' mind Tuesday in the township race.

After polling locations closed, candidates and campaign workers gathered around a television in the country club lounge as the results came in, receiving each Republican victory with an ovation.

School board member Sandra McCurdy said she looked for the ticket to add a "business minded" sensibility the board.

"I think that the community is ready for a change," McCurdy said.

Members of the ticket attributed the victory to much door-to-door campaigning and general discontent with the direction of the school district, said campaign manager Julia Wilhelm.

"[Campaign] signs don't vote," Steele said. "And it was a lot of hard work."

The incoming slate of school board members has to publish the newly inked agreement between the district and its teachers union, hold fewer executive sessions and rein in costs on construction project change orders.

Olszewski said despite only a moderate voter turnout, he remained optimistic while campaigning at Moon area polling locations.

"I think that the current board did not listen to the voters," Olszewski said. "I think they were disengaged with the community."

"I think the results show that the community was not happy with the current board," Tranter said. "We'll bring what we promised. Honesty, integrity and transparency."

Click for a rundown of results for the Moon Area School Board race and  for results on the township Board of Supersvisors race.