Dems pick DeBlasio for mayor

Democrats nominated one incumbent and two newcomers for city council.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A longtime city council member and a political newcomer will square off to become New Castle's next mayor.
Richard L. DeBlasio won the Democratic nomination with 48 percent of the vote. DeBlasio, who is now city council president, beat out fellow city council member Christine Sands, and Phil Conti for the nomination.
DeBlasio will face off against Republican nominee Wayne Alexander, who was unopposed in the primary election. The winner will replace Mayor Timothy Fulkerson, a Republican who did not seek re-election.
"We got the message out. I think the people of New Castle want to hear about working together. I believe [as mayor] we will work with the county, the educational system and the other municipalities. I think the people of the city of New Castle want a government that cooperates with governments around it," DeBlasio said.
Alexander could not be reached to comment.
City council
City council will also have a few new faces. The three Democratic nominees are unopposed in the fall. There were 10 candidates in the Democratic primary.
Rob Ratkovich was the top Democratic vote-getter with 14.69 percent of the vote. Ratkovich credits his door-to-door campaigning for his victory.
Karen DeCarlo came in second with only one vote less than Ratkovich.
"I didn't go out there and make promises I can't keep. I told the people what my background is and what I think I can do for the city," DeCarlo said.
Incumbent Patricia May came in third with 12.5 percent of the vote. May said she hopes the new members of council will work with the others to continue the downtown revitalization work.