Pocono News Section

124th District Special Election

124th District Special Election - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 6:02PM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 @ 06:02pm EST
MCADOO, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY- Voters filed into the Keystone Volunteer Fire Department in McAdoo Tuesday for the 124th District's special election. The two candidates for the vacant spot are Democrat Bill Mackey and Republican Jerry Knowles.

Longtime State Representative David Argall left the 124th seat vacant. In March, Argall was voted to replace State Senator James Rhoades. Rhoades died in a car crash last October.

Nancy Pinales' of McAdoo says her reason for voting is simple. "Things got to change here and that's why we came down to vote today," said Pinales.

Voters like George Thomas in Tamaqua are ready to have a new representative. Thomas says he wants his representative to, "Keep going with the education and you know and I hope they can pass some more bills for the public, cut the taxes."

The 124th District is made of up parts of Berks and Schuylkill County. Voters at the Tamaqua Borough Hall shared their thoughts with Eyewitness News. Lewis Erbe hopes the new representative will help cut taxes and more. "Help the people that need some help paying their property tax and jobs are very important," says Erbe.

State party leaders pushed for this special election to run in Tuesday's primary to save money. Last March's special election to seat Rhoade's replacement cost more than $170,000.