Commissioner, Judge Retention Highlight County Office Races

On Nov. 7, Blair County voters will decide who sits in the three seats at the commissioner’s table with four candidates vying for a chair. Two incumbents, Republican Amy Webster, and Democrat Laura Burke are joined on the ballot by Republican Dave Kessling and Democrat Carol Taylor. Webster and Burke were both elected in 2019 and are seeking second terms while Kessling and Taylor are newcomers.

With three seats, the Board of Commissioners is represented by both major parties with one being the minority. Because of the history of the board’s makeup, some voters have the impression that the race boils down to a head-to-head competition between the two Democratic candidates for one seat while the two Republican candidates are assured a spot.

While Blair County has traditionally elected two Republicans and one Democrat to the board, the general election is not a race between party-affiliated candidates. All four candidates, the two Republicans and two Democrats who secured the nomination in May’s primary are vying for one of three seats. Democrat Carol Taylor is not challenging Democrat Laura Burke for her specific seat, and Republicans Amy Webster and Dave Kessling are not running unopposed for a seat, rather it is a four-way race with the three top vote-getters securing a place on the board.

County voters will also decide if two Court of Common Pleas judges will continue on the bench for another 10-year term with President Judge Elizabeth Doyle and Judge Wade Kagarise facing retention votes.

Under the Pennsylvania state constitution, appellate and Common Pleas judges serve 10-year terms after winning partisan elections and then must seek subsequent terms in retention elections. Judges do not face opponents and voters make a yes-or -no choice. A majority of yes votes allows the judge to serve another 10-year term.

Voters will also be filling two seats on the bench with current Tyrone Magisterial District Judge Fred Miller and attorney Dave Consiglio in line for 10-year terms on the court.