LEWISBURG — Youth and new ideas, good. A different perspective, good. Student enthusiasm, refreshing.
People around town Wednesday were generally upbeat about Bucknell University senior Tim Hoffman’s strong victory in Ward 3 of Tuesday night’s Borough Council race, even if there are unresolved residency issues.
Except for those who hadn’t given it a thought because they didn’t know there had been an election.
Except for those who would have preferred incumbent Peter Bergonia.
“He (Hoffman) beat a really good guy,” said Keri Albright, a Lewisburg resident and president of the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way. “I’ve known Peter Bergonia all my life. He represented the town well. He represented Ward 3 well.”
Hoffman, 21, garnered 169 votes to 58 by Bergonia, 63.
“More power to him,” said Mya’s Cafe owner Elaine Campbell. “It shows the democratic process works.”
“If he can do a good job for our community, more power to him,” echoed Purple Platypus employee Ruth Ruch. Unless, she said, it was just a whim on his part. “That’s wrong.”
Libby Beiler, owner of Mad About Ewes, called the young man’s victory “great.”
“I think we need some young blood on the Borough Council,” Beiler said. “A student on the council could bring it. It’ll hopefully provide a nice balance. He’ll bring a different perspective on the issues.”
Hoffman was believed to be the first Bucknell student to run for a Borough Council seat since collegian Roberta C. L. Reed lost to Trey Casimir in the 2005 Democratic primary election. Bucknell students also lost election bids in the 1997 general election: One fell in the race for mayor, and the other lost in a drawing after a tie.
Joanna Johnson, a Milton resident who had stopped at Cherry Alley Cafe to eat, said it was refreshing to see young adults take an interest in politics.
“It might be good for Lewisburg to have some fresh ideas,” Johnson said.
Mayor Judith Wagner, who, early in the campaign expressed her preference for Bergonia’s victory, was unreachable by phone for comment late Tuesday and throughout the day Wednesday.
“Diversity of opinion is interesting and useful,” said Casimir, a Borough Council member. “My only concern is this young man’s commitment to the town. I have no problem with the other members on the council. I know them all. They’re older. They own property. Their commitment is demonstrated.”
Hoffman pledged during the campaign that, if elected, he would serve the full four-year term. Tuesday he said he would get a job here. Some had doubts.
“Will he stay around for his full term?” asked Campbell, Mya’s Cafe owner.
Well, the Denver native might. If he gets to serve any of it at all. For the elephant in the room no one would acknowledge except Hoffman himself is the prospect of a challenge with respect to his residency.
It was voiced aplenty, off-the-record.
Borough code says candidates for council must have lived in the borough continuously for one year. Hoffman has been a student in Lewisburg for four years, but the matter involves the definition of “continuously.”
One summer he worked in Washington, D.C.
Another he went abroad.
“My lease started in August,” he said. “I had no continuous lease from last year.”
Hoffman said he knew for a while a challenge was possible.
“We were straight forward and asked the elections board,” he said. “They said it was a gray area and gave us the go-ahead (to run),” he said. Because he was a write-in candidate, there was no pre-election ruling on the matter. It’s only pertinent now that he has won.
Hoffman said a challenge would be unfortunate, but following the rules are fine with him.
Union County solicitor Tom Clark said Tuesday night that borough code determines a candidate’s eligibility and the state’s election code determines the process for a challenge. Nothing will be done if an objection is not filed.
Said Mark Trautman, manager of On Fire Promotions: “I don’t think it would be fair to challenge if he won.”
n E-mail comments to dianepetryk@dailyitem.com
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