- The group that ultimately won the election is called Proud of Parkland
- The group that won the Republican nomination but lost the general election is called Elevate Education
- Board Director Jay Rohatgi won both a four-year and the two-year seat and will choose which to fill. Directors will appoint someone for the other seat.
SOUTH WHITEHALL, Pa. — Candidates running on the Democratic ticket appeared Tuesday to have swept the Parkland School Board race, according to unofficial results.
Incumbents Carol Facchiano, Jay Rohatgi, Lisa Roth and Marisa Ziegler, as well as newcomer Chris Pirrotta, had strong leads in vote totals, according to unofficial but complete results.
The race featured two opposing slates of candidates that both secured party nominations after campaigning as groups in the primary.
"I'm thrilled that the people of Parkland showed up to the polls today to back public education, civility and fiscal responsibility."Parkland School Board Director-elect Chris Pirrotta
The group that won featured mostly incumbents, and the other was made of Republican challengers.
"I'm thrilled that the people of Parkland showed up to the polls today to back public education, civility and fiscal responsibility," Pirrotta said.
Five four-year seats and one two-year seat were up for election. With six of nine board seats up for election, a victory for the Republicans could have majorly affected the board.
Board Director Jay Rohatgi won both a four-year and the two-year seat. He will now choose which to fill, and the directors will appoint someone for the other seat.
The candidate slates
The group that ultimately won the election is called Proud of Parkland.
The candidates campaigned on nonpartisanship and fiscal responsibility. Facchiano and Roth are Republicans, and Pirrotta, Ziegler and Rohatgi are Democrats.
The group that won the Republican nomination but lost the general election is called Elevate Education and also goes by Education First for Parkland.
It was made up of Republican challengers Mike Deering, Beth Finch, Natalie Janotka, Bobby Lanyon, Mike Millo and George Rivera.
They frequently criticized the current board for not being more transparent and for raising taxes.
On a radio show, Finch criticized the board for its handling of controversial nationwide issues, such as how the district teaches about race and sexuality.
Millo gave an emailed statement in response to the group's loss.
"Congratulations to all of the winners. I am proud of our message and effort but respect the voters," the statement read. "Until Republicans figure out the mail in ballot system, I feel we will see these sorts of results well into future."
Big spending
Both campaigns drew thousands of dollars in fundraising as school board races across the region and country have become hotbeds for political debates.
Common Sense Solutions, a state political action committee associated with former Lehigh County Commissioner Dean Browning, handled the finances for Elevate Education. It reported raising $27,450 for Republican slate in the last four months and spending almost all of it.
That funding included $5,000 from the controversial statewide PAC Back to School PA.
The Democratic slate raised $4,374 in donations over the four month period, as reported by its PAC Concerned Parents for Parkland.
Staff writer Tom Shortell contributed to this report.
