Two former officeholders will return to elective positions in Jim Thorpe Borough as a result of General Election results tallied Tuesday night when the polls closed in that municipality, while in the neighboring townships of Penn Forest and Kidder, voters returned three incumbents to positions.

Jim Thorpe BoroughIn the borough balloting, former councilman Michael J. Sofranko won the right to become the new mayor of that community, defeating Councilman Jeremy Melber in a race for the four-year term, succeeding retiring Mayor Ronald Confer.Sofranko, a Republican, easily outdistanced Democrat Melber, recording a 979 to 630 victory.Meanwhile, in the council race, former councilwoman Joanne Klitsch, who ran as a Republican, won a four-year term, as did incumbent Democrats Gregory Strubinger and Justin Yaich, and newcomer Kyle J. Shecker.The latter was the top vote-getter with 997 votes. Strubinger and Yaich followed with 881 and 782, respectively, while Klitsch garnered 773 votes.Failing to win a seat were Democrat Donald A. Reese, 578, and Republicans Dan J. Rimsky, 644, and Ammon D. Hontz, 665.Incumbent Constable Paul J. Gavornik, a Democrat, was unopposed and received 1,139 token votes.Other vote totals for poll positions in Jim Thorpe included:District 14 - Democrat Denise Green, 240, for judge of elections; and Democrat Margaret A. Sterner, 217, and Republican Adell J. Rosick, 74, for inspector of elections.District 15 - Democrat Christine Kibler, 217, for judge of elections; and Democrat Diane L. Donlin, 199, for inspector of elections.District 16 - Democrat Sara E. Solt, 352, for inspector of elections.District 17 - Democrat Doren Perdie, 118, and Republican Steven Perdie, 56, both for inspector of elections.District 18 - Democrat Edith Crossin, 298, for judge of elections; and Democrat Mary Strohl, 304, for inspector of elections.Penn Forest TownshipLongtime Tax Collector Barbara Ahner and incumbent Supervisor Warren "Butch" Reiner, both Democrats, flexed their muscles in Penn Forest Township during yesterday's balloting, both having won re-election to their respective posts, as did Republican Supervisor Judith Knappenberger.Ahner was challenged by Republican Marie Katz and won easily, 892 to 361, to return for another four years.In the supervisors' race, five persons ran for two six-year terms. Reiner was the top vote-recipient with 523 votes, while Knappenberger followed with 505. Losing out were Democrat Floyd Day, 478, Republican Jeff Kalage, 431; and Independent Raymond R. Royer, 390.Two Democrats were unopposed for other positions up for grabs in the township yesterday. Christine Fazio received 704 votes for a six-year term as auditor and 685 votes for the two-year term as auditor, while Anton Leppler was unchallenged for the six-year term as constable and received 984 token votes.Other vote totals for poll positions in Penn Forest included:District 51-01 - Democrat Margaret M. Rusbarsk, 248, for judge of elections; and Democrat Barbara Spitzer, 255, for inspector of elections.District 51-02 - Helen E. Torok, 285, for judge of elections; and Republican Alfred M. Feuerstein, 300, for inspector of elections.District 51-03 - Democrat Robert F. Steiger, 78, for judge of elections, and Democrat Julia A. Steiger, 81, for inspector of elections.District 51-04 - Democrat John Danchak, 108, for judge of elections; and Republican Dolores C. Cosgrove, 113, and Democrat Donna Danchak, 64, for inspector of elections.District 51-05 - Republican Robert M. Savino, 118, and Democrat Donna Briglio, 60, for judge of elections; and Republican Barbara A. Savino, 118, and Democrat Glenn S. Bachman, 59, for inspector of elections.Kidder TownshipOne incumbent and one newcomer were elected to six-year terms on the Kidder Township Board of Supervisors.Republican Larry Polansky and newcomer Bob Lengle, a Democrat, were the victors in a four-person race for the supervisors' seats. Lengle was the top vote-getter with 193 votes while Polansky was just five votes behind with 188. Losing out were incumbent supervisor Kevin Nally, a Republican, with 151 votes, and Democrat Richard A. Kennedy, 140.Tax Collector Kim M. Ginopolas was unopposed and was re-elected to another four-year term with 295 token votes.There were no candidates in the township for three terms (2, 4 and 6 years) as auditors, nor for the six-year term as constable.Other vote totals for poll positions in Kidder included:District 20 - Democrat Kathleen Spolowich, 60, for judge of elections; and Republican Sharon F. Roegge, 52, and Democrat Georgia McCluskey, 24, for inspector of elections.District 21 - Republican Elizabeth Lennon, 204, for judge of elections; and Democrat Mary F. Farnschlader, 140, and Republican Ronald Keppler, 115, for inspector of elections.Jim Thorpe School BoardThere was only one race for the Jim Thorpe Area School District Board of Education yesterday and that was for a two-year term of office. In that race, two incumbents ran against each other, with Democrat Clement C. McGinley outdistancing Republican Thomas P. Henry by a margin of 1,600 to 1,306.In the balloting for four four-year terms on the board, four candidates were cross-filed and were without ballot opposition. Winning those seats were incumbents Dennis J. McGinley, 2,235, Henry, 2,160, and Randall "Randy" Smith, 2,046, as well as newcomer Bob Kovac, 2,030.Voters in Jim Thorpe and Penn Forest Township, as well as Kidder Township South participated in the balloting for the school district seats.Weatherly School BoardVoters in Kidder North participated in balloting for seats on the Weatherly Area School District Board of Education. There were four four-year terms up for grabs, for which there were only four candidates.Corey Gerhart was the top vote-getter with 850 votes, followed by Joanne N. Dougherty, 753 and John Toth Jr., 743. All three were cross-filed candidates. The fourth candidate, Bonita Barbush, appeared only on the GOP ballot and finished with 602 votes.