Vote Count 'Substantially Complete' For Phoenixville

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — The ballot count was "substantially complete" in Phoenixville races as Chester County issued its latest update.

Chesco voter turnout was 38 percent in Pennsylvania's 2021 Municipal General Election, according to Chester County Voter Services. On Thursday morning, just over 39,118 of 40,781 mail-in votes had been counted and added to Tuesday's in-person vote count.

By Friday afternoon, no further update had been provided. The reporting website noted that with 1,663 votes remaining to be reported, the count was "substantially complete."

Here are the updates in Phoenixville races:

Phoenixville had several uncontested local races, though five candidates were vying for four seats on the Phoenixville Area School District Board of Directors.

Phoenixville Area School District School Directors

In the Phoenixville Area School District, five candidates ran for four seats as School Director At Large. The five appeared on all Phoenixville Ward ballots and on ballots in East Pikeland Township.

The race was very tight between Caitlyn Carminito, Susan Turner, and Scott Overland who ran as Democrats/Republicans and Victoria Walker who was listed as a Democrat. Emily Shanley ran as a Republican.

By Thursday, the tally was still very close. Carminito had 5,247 votes, and Turner had 5,216. Overland had 5,063 and Walker 5,012. Shanley trailed with 3,628 votes.

PASD Board Director Laura Reed resigned on Oct. 18 and Phoenixville Area School District will appoint someone to fill her vacancy in the weeks ahead. Reed's term would have ended in 2023. Read that Patch story here.

Phoenixville Borough Council

Candidates for Phoenixville Borough Council run uncontested in all four wards. In the North Ward, Richard Mark Kirkner, a Democrat runs uncontested.

In Phoenixville's Middle Ward, Beth Burckley, also a Democrat, ran uncontested and got 717 votes in Thursday's report. There were 117 write-in votes for that seat.

In the East Ward, James Carminito, a Democrat, was also the sole candidate and has 675 votes on reported on Thursday.

Democrat Dana Dugan ran uncontested in the West Ward and garnered 623 votes as of Thursday.

Mayor of Phoenixville Borough

The race for Mayor of Phoenixville Borough was no race, really, as Mayor Peter Urscheler ran uncontested for re-election. He received 3,154 votes, 97 percent of those cast with all precincts reporting, by Wednesday at noon. There were 97 write-in votes.

Urscheler issued a statement on Wednesday night thanking voters for re-electing him.

"It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve as your Mayor and I thank you for your support and the opportunity to continue in service to you and our community, in this very special way," Urscheler wrote.

This report will be updated as election results are finalized.

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