Words such as “historic” and “unprecedented” are being used to describe the possible turnout in this Tuesday’s general election. Maybe so, but most of the local and state contests in the five-county Times News area have not generated a lot of interest among voters.

Even with gubernatorial and U.S. senatorial contests on the ballot, the electorate has been largely turned off by the steady stream of negative advertising that has filled their TV screens and mailboxes during the past several weeks.

Incumbent Democrat Tom Wolf of Mount Wolf, York County, is seeking a second four-year term and is being challenged by Republican Scott Wagner of Spring Garden Township, York County; and Libertarian Ken V. Krawchuk of Abington, Montgomery County, and Green Party candidate Paul Glover of Philadelphia.

Running with Wolf for lieutenant governor is John Fetterman of Braddock, Allegheny County, while Wagner’s Republican running mate is Jeff Bartos of Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County. Krawchuk’s Libertarian Party running mate is Kathleen Smith, of Pittsburgh, while the Green Party lieutenant governor candidate is Jocolyn Bouser of Chester, Delaware County.

Incumbent Democrat U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of Scranton is seeking his third six-year term. Opposing him is former Republican Hazleton Mayor and U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, Libertarian Dale B. Kerns Jr. of Ridley Township, Delaware County, and Green Party candidate Neal Taylor Gale of Abington Township, Montgomery County.

There are three congressional districts that cover the area. The one that has gotten the most attention is the 7th District, which includes Lehigh and Northampton counties and part of southern Monroe County.

The open seat vacated by the retirement and May resignation of Republican Charlie Dent is being sought by Democrat Susan Wild of Allentown; Republican Marty Nothstein of Lowhill Township, Lehigh County; and Libertarian Tim Silfies of Hanover Township.

Simultaneous to the general election contest will be one to fill out the remainder of Dent’s term in the old 15th District, which include all of Lehigh, part of Northampton and several counties to the south stretching to near Harrisburg. The same three candidates are running for this seat. The winner, however, will serve less than two months.

It is possible that the winners of the special and the full-term elections could be different, meaning that the special election winner would be in office for only a little more than six weeks.

The 8th District, which includes part of Monroe, pits incumbent Democrat Matt Cartwright of Moosic, Lackawanna County, against John Chrin of Barrett Township, Monroe County.

The 9th District, which includes Carbon and Schuylkill, features Democrat Dennis Wolff of Millville, Columbia County, against Republican Dan Meuser of Dallas, Luzerne County.

Half of the 50 state Senate seats are up for election this year, including five in our area. Two incumbents are unopposed — John Yudichak, Democrat, representing the 14th District, which includes Carbon and Luzerne, and Democrat Lisa Boscola, who represents the 18th District, which includes parts of Northampton and Lehigh.

In the 16th State Senate District (part of Lehigh), incumbent Republican Pat Browne of Allentown is being challenged by Democrat Mark Pinsley of South Whitehall Township. In the 40th District (parts of Monroe and Northampton) incumbent Republican Mario Scavello of Mount Pocono is pitted against Democrat Tarah Probst of Stroudsburg and Libertarian Adam Reinhart of Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County.

All 203 House of Representative seats are up for election, including the 17 in the Times News area. Eight are uncontested, all held by incumbents. They are: 22nd District (part of Lehigh), Democrat Peter Schweyer; 132nd District (part of Lehigh), Democrat Mike Schlossberg; 133rd District (part of Lehigh), Democrat Jeanne McNeill; 135th District (part of Northampton), Democrat Steve Samuelson; 136th District (part of Northampton), Democrat Robert Freeman; 123rd District (part of Schuylkill), Republican Neal Goodman; 124th District (parts of Schuylkill and Carbon), Republican Jerry Knowles, and 125th District (part of Schuylkill), Republican Mike Tobash.

The competitive races include: 131st District (parts of Lehigh and Northampton), Republican incumbent Justin Simmons and Democrat Andy Lee; 134th District (parts of Lehigh and Berks), incumbent Republican Ryan MacKenzie and Democrat Tom Applebach; 137th District (part of Northampton), incumbent Republican Joe Emrick; Democrat Amy Cozze and Libertarian Ed Reagan; 138th District (part of Northampton), incumbent Republican Marcia Hahn, Democrat Dean Donaher and Libertarian Jake Towne; 183rd District (Northampton and Lehigh), incumbent Republican Zach Mako and Democrat Jason Ruff; 115th District (part of Monroe), incumbent Democrat Maureen Madden and Republican David Parker; 122nd District (most of Carbon), incumbent Republican Doyle Heffley and Democrat Kara Scott; 176th District (part of Monroe), incumbent Republican Jack Rader and Democrat Claudette Williams, and 189th District (part of Monroe), incumbent Republican Rosemary Brown and Democrat Adam Rodriguez.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com