Times Leader File Photo
Nanticoke City Municipal Building
Times Leader File Photo
Nanticoke Mayor Kevin Coughlin
Times Leader File Photo
NANTICOKE — Kevin Coughlin, the incumbent Democrat, has been reelected as mayor of Nanticoke, according to unofficial election results. He held off a challenge from Republican Chris Cognigni, and did so in resounding fashion, with nearly a 25% margin of victory. Coughlin won 62.07% of the vote, compared to Cognigni’s 37.76% of the vote.
Even in Nanticoke’s most Republican-friendly areas — specifically the first, fifth, and sixth voting wards — Coughlin won by landslide margins.
Coughlin will be joined in the city government by fellow Democrats Lesley Butczynski, John Telencho, and Mark O’Connor. Butczynski and Telencho have served on city council before — Butczynski for three terms and Telencho for one — and O’Connor is an incumbent.
Up for consideration on the ballot were two open seats for a four-year term, and one open seat for a two-year term on the Nanticoke City Council.
According to the unofficial results, Butczynski and Telencho secured four-year terms by scoring 29.60% and 23.22% of the vote share, respectively. Republicans Joseph Nalepa (an incumbent) and Michael Marcella (a former council member) received 19.57% and 18.57% of the vote, respectively. Independent John Zendarski scored 8.85% of the vote.
Meanwhile, O’Connor fought off a challenge from Republican Selena Lexie, according to unofficial results, for a two-year term on city council. O’Connor secured 1,355 votes (59.80%) to Lexie’s 908 votes (40.07%).
Coughlin was first elected to a two-year term as mayor in 2019 and a four-year term in 2021. For a Times Leader preview story of the mayoral race, Coughlin touted his record on safety within the city’s limits. He touted his administration’s investments into the police and fire departments thanks to grant’s that were secured by the city.
Looking ahead to his incoming term, Coughlin said he wants to focus on downtown development and infrastructure, especially the city’s road, sewer, and stormwater systems.
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