Staff Reports
PENDLETON — The Democratic Party team of Supervisor James A. Riester and councilmen Edward P. Harman and Joseph M. Frawley were decisive winners Tuesday in an election that bordered on contentious.
Riester turned away challenger David A. Leible by getting 62 percent of the 1,748 votes. Riester’s unofficial total was 1,083. Leible got 665.
“I’m glad people came out and voted,” Riester said. “They got my message and responded to it. It was a good night for our team, not just Democrats, but Democrats and Republicans together. We have the same beliefs.”
Harman and Frawley were a close one-two in the voting for two council seats. Harman had 949 votes and Frawley had 902.
“Joe and I don’t always agree and that’s good,” Riester said. “We agree to disagree.”
Kevin Smigiel, a past council member, got 611 votes. Councilman Martin Korkuc, who was running for another four-year term, got 604 votes.
Harman, Frawley and Riester enjoyed a victory party at the supervisor’s house.
“It was a good night for us,” Riester said. “Now it’s time to take swords and hammer them into plowshares and get together and work.”
Voters were being encouraged to pick a team in the election. Riester, Harman and Frawley also had the endorsements of the Taxcutter Party.
Korkuc and Smigiel had Republican, Independence, Conservative and Working Family endorsements.
