ANTI-LANDFILL LANDSLIDE!
The last five years have demonstrated that anti-landfill expansion candidates dominate every race. Dunmore voters made it clear last night that what’s in their best interest is their health, well being and future.
Dunmore councilman Hayes ousted while McHale's fate uncertain
BY TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER, STAFF WRITER / PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER 6, 2019
At least one of two Dunmore councilmen who voted for a zoning amendment that would bolster Keystone Landfill’s expansion plans was ousted by voters, coming in last in a field of five candidates seeking four open seats, according to the unofficial count in Tuesday’s general election.
Michael Hayes was the odd man out with 1,079 votes. That’s less than half of the votes that were garnered by three candidates who opposed the expansion, incumbents Vince Amico, Michael Dempsey and newcomer Beth McDonald Zangardi, who each received more than 2,900 votes.
Incumbent Michael McHale, who also voted for the zoning amendment, had the second lowest total, with 1,424 votes — a stark contrast from the May primary, where he was the highest vote-getter on the Democratic ballot.
Whether McHale retains his seat depends on the results of a write-in campaign launched by Janet Brier. A total of 2,420 write-in votes were cast, which tops McHale’s vote count. There is no way to know whose name was written in until the official count is taken Friday.
Brier and her brother, Chris McGrath, her campaign treasurer, said they are confident she beat out McHale given the number of write-in votes.
“I think we can assume 90 to 95% are hers,” McGrath said. “Even if she got 80 or 90%, she has him beat by 800 to 1,000 votes.”
McHale served on council since 2010. Attempts to reach him for comment Tuesday night were unsuccessful.
The landfill expansion has long been a topic of heated debate. It took center stage in the election after Hayes and McHale joined council members Thomas Ehnot and Carol Scrimalli, who were not up for election, in voting to approve a zoning ordinance that declared sanitary landfills are not considered structures — a decision that would exempt Keystone from a 50-foot height restriction.
The ordinance did not take effect because Mayor Timothy Burke vetoed it. Brier said the election results show the issue remains important to voters.
Brier strongly opposes the landfill expansion and jumped into the race after council’s vote. She was surprised to learn how many write-ins were cast.
“Asking people to write in your name is a daunting task,” she said.
She credited an army of volunteers for convincing voters to make the effort.
“I had a tremendous amount of help with my family, friends and many people I never knew before who stepped up and worked very hard,” she said.
Hayes said he was disappointed with the election outcome, but still believes he did the right thing in voting for the ordinance. He remains concerned the borough will face a lawsuit from the landfill owners, Louis and Dominick Denaples.
“I can walk away with my head held high, knowing that for the last 20 years of my community and public service I always did what I thought was in the best interest for my town,” he said. “I love this town and I’m grateful for the experience.”
Zangardi also campaigned against the landfill expansion. She’s confident Burke’s veto will stand. She’s anxious to take office and start working on other important issues.
“Let’s get down to doing the people’s business. I can’t wait to get started,” she said.
Council members earn $3,000 a year, while the council president is paid $6,000.
Attempts to reach Amico and Dempsey for comment were unsuccessful.