A slate of challengers won all of the Greater Bustleton Civic League’s board seats during an election last Wednesday.
Jack O’Hara, currently the league’s vice president, will take office as president during the organization’s June 13 meeting. He defeated John McKeever, the incumbent.
Maureen Greene, who had served many years as corresponding secretary, won the job back, defeating Lillian de Krafft. Bob Hall bested incumbent treasurer Joan Rhoades. Marlene Markowitz successfully challenged Diane Caruso for the recording secretary’s post.
O’Hara and his running mates briefly spoke last week during the league’s session at the American Heritage Federal Credit Union on Red Lion Road. Harry Haberkern, who ran with O’Hara, had no opposition in his bid to succeed O’Hara as vice president.
McKeever was the only incumbent who asked for members’ support.
Voting had begun before 7 p.m., before any candidate spoke, with some members casting their ballots and leaving almost immediately. Few remained when the election results were announced at about 10 p.m.
A few weeks before the election, McKeever said he had expected more than 200 would vote, but last week said the turnout seemed lower.
Only the names of winning candidates were announced. The league’s by-laws prohibit revealing how many votes individual candidates get. However, the length of time involved counting the ballots suggested to some that the races were tight.
A contested election for civic association slots is a rarity in Northeast Philadelphia. Most organizations have so much trouble getting members to volunteer for seats on their boards that the idea of people competing for those posts is almost unheard of.
Last year, the Greater Bustleton Civic League had one race. O’Hara beat incumbent vice president Myles Gordon.
Before campaign speeches were made last week, the league awarded $100 checks to local pupils whose schools recommended them.
Honored for their scholastic and community activities were: Sophia Lovell, from Anne Frank School; Jenna Stark, St. Albert the Great; Anthony Umile, Maternity BVM; and Andrew Gadaleta, Baldi Middle School. Abigail Bitton and Chelsea Tepel, both Greenberg Elementary School pupils, shared the award.
The league usually meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month, but the next session will be on June 13 so members can address some zoning issues before the organization breaks for the summer. The meetings will begin at 7:30 p.m. at American Heritage Federal Credit Union, 2060 Red Lion Road. ••
