Schuylkill County voters have elected a new commissioner.

Republican Larry Padora tallied the most votes for one of three seats on the county Board of Commissioners, according to unofficial results from the Schuylkill County Election Bureau.

Voters also chose to keep Republican Barron “Boots” Hetherington and Democrat Gary Hess on the board.

The race saw five candidates on the ballot.

Tallies show Padora, of New Ringgold, with 15,396 votes, and Hetherington of Union Township, with 15,083 votes. Hess, of Schuylkill Haven, had 14,363 votes.

Democrat Rita Anczarski Baldino, Shenandoah, received 9,354 votes, and Libertarian Gregory Woll, Schuylkill Haven, received 3,071 votes.

Mary Jo Moss ran a write-in campaign. The county recorded 4,470 write-in votes.

Padora owns the historic Padora’s Italian Bakery in Tamaqua, which has operated for 138 years. He is the president of the New Ringgold Borough Council and the director of facilities at the Schuylkill Transportation System. On Wednesday morning, Padora was at work at STS and due to his work schedule, was unavailable to comment until the end of his shift later today.

Hetherington, Union Township, is a sixth generation farmer who has operated a small business in the county for 43 years. He was appointed to the board in 2020 to fill the term of the late Frank Staudenmeier and serves as chairman.

Hetherington said he was “humbled” by the support of the public.

“I was a difficult first 3 and ½ years filling in for the late, great Frank Staudenmeier,” he admitted

Within a few weeks, the sexual harassment scandal broke with Commissioner George Halcovage. The COVID-19 pandemic was also happening, he said.

“All of a sudden, this farmer becomes a commissioner, and in six weeks becomes chairman of the board,” Hetherington said.

The scandal, which he referred to as an “off-the-field” issue, took away from developing the commissioners’ team, and took other county employees away from their duties.

Still, Hetherington said he returns home from work every day knowing that he’s doing what is right - and what is not politically motivated.

He said he looks forward to working with Padora.

“I’m thrilled to have Larry Padora for a teammate,” he said. “Come Jan. 2, we will have a functional board of commissioners.”

Hetherington is also happy to continue working alongside Hess.

He thanked voters; his wife, Robin, and his three daughters and sons-in-law for their support. One of his brothers, he said, flew home from Oregon to help work the farm while Hetherington was at the polls.

“I just want to hank my family and the voters who showed the confidence and trust in me to go another four years,” he said.

He plans to see through several projects he began, including an EMA Training Facility and a prisoner prerelease center.

Hess has served since 2011. He and his wife started their business, Hess Catering Inc. He is a former mayor of Schuylkill Haven.

He could not be reached for comment.