Toney, Democratic newcomer win Harmar supervisor seats

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Michael Aubele can be reached via e-mail or at 724-226-4673.

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Democrats Kim Toney and Jerry Chalmers won big in Tuesday's race for two open supervisor seats, defeating the former board members who ran a negative online campaign in an effort to sway voters.

According to unofficial election results, Toney, an incumbent, garnered 563 votes, and Chalmers, 534.

They defeated Republicans Bob Seibert Jr. and Jim DiPalma, who collected 439 votes and 449 votes, respectively.

"I didn't know which way it would go because they put so much negative information out there," said Toney, 43, of Ridge Road.

Seibert maintains the unofficial township Web site which includes posts in a community forum that most often bash Toney and her husband, police Capt. Rick Toney.

"I think their negativity worked against them," said Toney, who will serve a second term.

Said Chalmers: "They shot themselves in the foot with their bogus Web site and trash talking. Hopefully now, all of this negative stuff will fade away."

Chalmers, 49, of Russellton Road, said his primary objective upon taking office will be "to keep things in the township running smoothly.

"We need to keep costs in control and definitely avoid raising taxes."

Toney said supervisors don't plan to raise taxes. Seibert and DiPalma posted large election signs indicating the board plans to increase taxes.

Asked if supervisors would create a fire tax, Toney said, "We have not discussed that at all."

Firefighters asked the board in August for a 1-mill fire tax, largely to generate revenue for new equipment.

Seibert and DiPalma did not return calls for comment last night.

The pair circulated mailers last month that accused Toney and Chalmers of election fraud.

Toney and Chalmers collected about 150 votes from absentee ballots. Seibert and DiPalma were successful in getting about 40 of those votes thrown out through a legal challenge.

Also included in the mailer were copies of complaints filed with the police department that accuse both Toneys of harassment.

Bob Exler, a Democrat who ran for supervisor in the May primary but lost, accused the Toneys of harassing him after an April township water authority meeting.

No criminal charges were filed.

Nor were any charges filed after Tax Collector Pat Janoski accused Rick Toney and resident Jean Bonetti of harassing her in May at the municipal building.