LAWRENCE COUNTY Party-line voting appears to be a thing of the past

Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 2-to-1 ratio in the county.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Joe Reynolds of New Castle doesn't care which political party a candidate is affiliated with. He's interested in the person.
Apparently more Lawrence County voters agree with Reynolds. Republicans came out on top in two high-profile races in the county and New Castle, where there are an overwhelming number of registered Democrats.
"Party affiliation don't mean nothing. It depends on what people say. I'm signed up as an Independent, and that way I can look at what they say," said Reynolds.
County political party leaders say that opinion is becoming more common among the electorate.
"I think people are attuned to an issue they feel will affect them and they use it to make their choice," said Peter Vessella, county Democratic party chairman. "I don't think elections of the recent era have been party elections; they have been candidate elections with issues that affect [the voters] directly."
Democrats outnumber Republicans in Lawrence County by more than 2 to 1, and in New Castle those numbers jump to 3 to 1.
Republicans win
But in both cases Republicans were elected to top positions this week.
Dan Vogler and Ed Fosnaught will make up the first Republican majority on the board of county commissioners in 25 years.
Wayne Alexander was elected New Castle's mayor. He is the second Republican to take office in recent years. Republican Timothy Fulkerson just completed eight years as New Castle's mayor.
Voters also put in a Republican city council member, Will Quimby.
"In the city of New Castle they used to say if your not an Italian Democrat, stay home and cut your grass," said Norman A. DeGidio, Lawrence County Republican Party chairman.
But now people are looking more at the candidate than the party, DeGidio said.
"People today are a lot smarter. They read. You can ask them to consider a candidate, but don't tell them how to vote," he said.
Registered Republican Paul Cook says his party affiliation has nothing to do with his vote.
"I do a little research before voting. I vote for the best person," said Cook, of New Castle.
Joseph Milone of Taylor Township, a registered Democrat, said he also votes for the person, not the party.
"If I believe the person is better, I will vote for him no matter the party," he said.
cioffi@vindy.com