Politics & Government
Snovitch Wins 'War,' Is Re-elected in Lower Milford
Incumbent, running as Democrat, beats GOP challenger Gail Hunsberger, who defeated him in May primary.
In a classic case of losing a battle but winning the war, Mike Snovitch won re-election Tuesday in the Lower Milford commissioners race by defeating Gail Hunsberger.
Tuesday's contest was the war. The battle was in the May primary, when Hunsberger beat Snovitch.
Both ran as Republicans in the spring. But Snovitch garnered enough write-in votes to get his name on Tuesday's ballot as a Democrat. Hunsberger also got Democratic write-in votes—just not as many as Snovitch, according to commissioners chairwoman Donna Wright, whose seat was not up for election this time.
With 100 percent of the votes counted, Snovitch had 586 (56 percent) and Hunsberger had 459 (44 percent). The totals, posted on WFMZ-TV's website, are unofficial.
The candidates were seeking a full six-year term. Snovitch is finishing a two-year term that he won in the November 2011 election. Thus the three-member commissioners board will continue to be Snovitch and Republicans Wright and William Roy.
According to information from the League of Women Voters used in a Patch story before the primary, Snovitch is executive director of a Washington D.C.-based shipper organization. He is a former chairman of the township planning commission.
Snovitch told the league that he is committed to maintaining the township's rural character and to being fiscally responsible.
Hunsberger is a flight nurse and a safety officer for the Lower Milford Fire Company. She told the league that the township needs to be more transparent in its workings and to better communicate with residents. That can be accomplished through use of technology and the township newsletter, she said.