The voters have spoken and the Republican Party keeps the majority on the Carbon County Board of Commissioners.

The new board will consist of incumbent Wayne E. Nothstein, who was the top vote-getter with 8,901 votes; newcomer Michael Sofranko, a Republican, who received 7,941 votes; and Democratic incumbent Rocky Ahner, who garnered 6,308 votes.

Democrat Jeff Schnaiter came in fourth with 4,086 votes.

All votes are unofficial at this time. The official canvassing process to certify the votes begins Friday.

Nothstein celebrated his win with family and friends at the Boat Yard in Weissport on Tuesday night.

“I’m looking forward to working with Mike (Sofranko),” Nothstein said. “We’re going to be able to community better than with (the current board of) commissioners.”

With the win, Nothstein, of Lehighton, becomes the longest serving commissioner in Carbon County, now set to begin his 25th year in January.

For Sofranko, who is Jim Thorpe’s mayor, he was grateful to the residents, as well as his family.

“I can’t say enough about my family and Wayne’s family,” he said. “I’m looking forward to serving every resident in Carbon County.”

He added that he and Nothstein had a strong, supportive team, including Joe Steber as their campaign chair, that helped get their message out.

Sofranko replaces Commissioner Chris Lukasevich, who did not seek reelection.

Ahner will serve as the sole Democrat on the board.

He said he wants to continue to help all the towns in Carbon County, as well as continue on his goals for better salaries for county employees and reigning in on spending.

“I’m going to continue what I’ve always been doing, looking out for the taxpayers’ money and getting our employees a little bit more money,” he said. “I want to thank all the voters who came out to support Jeff (Schnaiter) and I. Also congratulations to Wayne and Mike.”

The new board will be sworn in by the courts the first week of January

This will be Nothstein’s seventh term in office, while it will be the second term for Ahner and the first term for Sofranko.

The board of commissioners oversee the operation of county government, including salaries, capital projects, and overseeing an approximate $70 million annual budget.

The board will each be paid $76,385 for 2024.

Reporter Terry Ahner contributed to this report.