The City of Pottsville Republican Committee announced Wednesday its endorsements for candidates for city offices and Pottsville Area school board.
Earlier this year, two Republican candidates for mayor stepped forward. On Wednesday night, the committee put its weight behind Scott R. Thomas, 23.
"I accept the endorsement of the committee and I look forward to hearing everyone's input throughout the course of this campaign," Thomas said Wednesday night, after the party voted at its headquarters at 362 S. Centre St.
Thomas, a Republican member of the Pottsville Area school board, announced his candidacy for mayor in January.
In February, Philip G. McClintock, Pottsville, announced his plan to run for mayor as a Republican. He said was at the committee's meeting Wednesday.
Present were 14 members of the committee who were eligible to vote. In the vote regarding the mayor's race, the committee voted 13 to 1 to endorse Thomas, according to Ron Downey, committee chairman.
"I believe that Scott and his team will bring new ideas to changing our city," Downey said.
"This was no surprise. Many of the members who had voting privileges were already working on Scott's campaign before I announced my candidacy," said McClintock, who turns 26 today.
McClintock is still running for mayor in the primary, which will be May 21, according to the website for the Schuylkill County Election Bureau.
The 14 voting members voted unanimously to endorse candidates for other public offices: Kerry Ansbach and Tina Zanis for city council; four candidates for Pottsville Area school board, incumbent Charles Wagner and newcomers, Dr. Robert DeColli, Patricia Hoak and Rhonda Johnson; newcomer Patrick Reynolds for county sheriff; and Christine Holman for county district attorney, Downey said.
On Feb. 21, the Pottsville City Democratic Party announced its candidates at a fundraiser at Humane Fire Company No. 1.
They include city Councilman James T. Muldowney, 55, for mayor.
Others are incumbent Mark J. Atkinson for city council and newcomer Joseph J. Devine Jr. for city council; incumbent Sheriff Joseph G. Groody; and incumbent District Attorney Karen Byrnes-Noon.
"We have not yet endorsed school board candidates," Atkinson said Wednesday.